From the Popular Press: What Your Patients are Reading:

Both osteoporosis and obesity are growing health problems in the US. While bone and fat are each derived from mesynchymal stem cells, the connection between the two substances is not fully understood. However, researchers have discovered a protein that may explain the link between bone and fat. The short-acting protein GILZ may be able to disrupt the production of fat, and instead allow greater bone development, thus combating both obesity and osteoporosis. In elderly people weight gain and bone loss are often seen contemporaneously, and researchers believe they may be able to use the protein GILZ to address both problems at once, and restore a healthy balance of bone and fat production. GILZ also appears to have potential as a novel anti-inflammatory therapy, since the protein suppresses immune system and inflammatory responses. Although there is still a considerable amount of research that needs to be done in GILZ, researchers hope that one day it will be available in pill form to be used in the treatment of obesity, osteoporosis, arthritis, and other inflammatory diseases.

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