Exercise and Caffeine May Activate Metabolic Genes

ananyo writes "A trip to the gym could mean not just losing pounds — but also chemical modifications from DNA in the form of methyl groups. The presence (or absence) of methyl groups at certain positions on DNA can affect gene expression. Researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm looked at the methylation status of genes in small biopsies taken from the thigh muscles of healthy young adults before and after a stint on an exercise bike. They found that, for some genes involved in energy metabolism, the workout demethylated the promoter regions (stretches of DNA that facilitate the transcription of particular genes). Genes unrelated to metabolism remained methylated. Furthermore, similar demethylation could be seen when cultured muscle cells were given a massive (probably lethal) dose of caffeine."

Comments

Re:Exercising easier? Really?

[AK Marc]

It would be hard to. Eating a teaspoon of sugar, all other things being equal, will cause you to lose weight because the increase in your metabolic rate will be more than the calories contained within. Caffeine is the number 1 drug in diet pills. It increases metabolism and decreases appetite (just like the cocaine it was selected to replace).

So, someone on an otherwise healthy diet that added one non-diet MD to their diet, would likely decrease, not increase in weight. The effect of 50 per day, evenly spaced is not something anyone other than the Powersauce people would consider.