Efforts to lose weight could one day be aided by porous particles of sand.
The weight-lowering mechanism behind the potential treatment has been poorly understood, despite previous clinical trials producing promising results.
Researchers have tested a range of sizes and shapes in a simulation of the human gut.
The results support the idea that porous silica can interfere with the digestion of fat, cholesterol, starches and sugars.
What's more, the size of the nanoparticles seems to have an effect on how effective they are.
The authors acknowledge that their model is too simple to perfectly mimic the complexity of the human gut, but given the ethics surrounding human clinical trials, gut simulations and animal models are closer than they might otherwise get.
This new model accounts for both fat and carbohydrate digestion. The degree to which organic matter could be absorbed into the gastrointestinal tract was analzed by the authors.
It is possible that porous silica causes a reduction in weight gain in other ways.
Researchers found that mice on high fat diet put on less weight when they were fedMSPs Their total body fat percentage decreased as well. The effect was based on the relative size of the particles. The larger particles were more effective.
These results were supported by follow-up studies. The power of mouse digestion was determined by the shape and size of porous silica particles.
In 2020, the first clinical data on 10 healthy humans with Obesity showed that MSPs can reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
Current medicines for weight gain like Orlistat can't be compared to the treatment because it didn't cause any abdominal discomfort.
The current research compares an array of 13 porous samples of various widths, absorption potentials, shapes, sizes, and surface chemistries.
Each sample was introduced to a human gastrointestinal model that mimicked a fed state. For half an hour, the model allowed for the absorption of the stomach contents.
Lactose digestion was monitored by the concentration of absorbed sugars and fat digestion was monitored by the amount of fat absorbed.
The ideal sample size was between 6 and 10 nanometers. These sizes appeared to be the best for blocking the enzymes.
The pores may also trap other things. Researchers think it is more complex than that.
The optimal size for inhibiting starch digestion was too large for the purpose.
The porous sand particles could not pass into the system's bloodstream because they were absorbed by the Gastrointestinal Tract.
Another way in which the particles counter the calories is through this.
The most organic matter was absorbed by the particles with larger surface areas.
There is more research that needs to be done to duplicate these results. The mechanism can be tested in human trials after that.
The study was published in pharmaceutics
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