TUESDAY, July 21 (HealthDay News) — Reducing levels of a brain enzyme may curb appetite and boost energy, thereby helping people to control their weight, says a new study. Prolylcarboxypeptidase (PRCP) regulates the alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), a body chemical that reduces hunger while revving up the body’s energy levels. If PRCP enzyme is blocked, alpha-MSH levels stay high and keep appetite in check. When researchers at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn., blocked PRCP in mice, the rodents lost weight, maintained their energy levels and reduced …
Read the whole story on Medicine Net.