Ali Haider, MD

A therapeutic that can dissolve visceral fat cells?! This caught my attention…

Visceral fat is the fat that sits around your organs in the abdomen, which is linked to insulin resistance, fatty liver, and cardiovascular disease.

For me this may be especially interesting for South Asians, who can develop significant metabolic problems even at a relatively low BMI due a disproportional amount of visceral fat. The number on the scale doesn’t tell the whole story.

The drug is called CBL-514, and it’s given through multiple injections into abdominal fat.

In a small analysis from two phase-two trials, MRI-measured visceral fat fell about 12% four weeks after the final treatment—and remained about 10% lower eight to twelve weeks later. Meanwhile, placebo recipients gained visceral fat.

But this is a bit early to get too escorted : this involved only about 40 people, with short follow-up.

It also hasn’t yet shown better blood sugar, improved cholesterol, or fewer heart attacks.

But as a cardiologist, especially once ther treats populations with excess visceral fat and metabolic derangements - I’m interested. A treatment that safely reduces visceral fat could have real value for at risk people.

Now we need larger, longer trials showing that those changes are legit and can translate into better health.

Let’s keep an eye on this one..

#hearthealth #metabolichealth #obesity #insulinresistance