We know some of the many benefits of regular exercise, but now we know at least one more mechanism. Researches at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School published online in the journal Nature last week the results of a new study involving humans and mice.
They have discovered a new hormone made in exercising muscles that sends good signals to the rest of the body. This messenger hormone is aptly names Irisin after the Greek Messenger Goddess Iris.
They identified at least two important functions of Irisin, which is increased by exercising. One effect is elevated Irisin is turning conventional "white" fat (what we think of as fat and mostly central as we age) to "brown" fat which burns more calories, primarily to keep us warm. The second effect is to make the body more sensitive to glucose.
They found the effect lasted several hours after the exercise in both animals and humans. Then they injected Irisin in amounts equal to that produced at strenuous exercise into obese pre-diabetic mice and found the beneficial results of increased energy expenditure (weight loss and glucose sensitivity) with no change in diet or exercise and apparently no ill effects.
They caution that the "exercise in a pill" won't have all the benefits of going to the gym, for instance building muscle, but might help ward of diabetes.
For now, I recommend a walk, a run, a bike ride or the gym to get your Irisin "risin"!
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