The chlorophyll metabolite phytanic acid is a natural rexinoid--potential for treatment and prevention of diabetes.
Synthetic ligands of the retinoid X receptor (RXR) have shown antidiabetic activity in mice, apparently owing to the fact that they stimulate the transcriptional activity of PPAR-gamma/RXR heterodimers, much like thiazolidinedione drugs. The chlorophyll metabolite phytanic acid has been shown to be a natural ligand for RXR, active in concentrations near its physiological levels. It is thus reasonable to suspect that phytanic acid may have utility for treatment and prevention of human type 2 diabetes. Phytanic acid may mimic or complement various effects of conjugated linoleic acids, which have been shown to activate PPAR-gamma/RXR and prevent rodent diabetes. Administration of hydrolyzed chlorophyll may represent the most cost-effective strategy for raising human tissue levels of phytanic acid.
McCarty
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MF
Pantox Laboratories, 4622 Santa Fe Street, San Diego, CA 92109, USA.
D000818:Animals; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D010831:Phytanic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000187:drug effects; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000187:drug effects
D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D014157:Transcription Factors; D002734:Chlorophyll; D010831:Phytanic Acid; D019787:Linoleic Acid