Details for Patent: 5,731,287
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| Title: | Process for the long term reduction of body fat stores, insulin resistance, and hyperinsulinemia in vertebrates |
| Abstract: | A process for the long term modification and regulation of lipid metaboli-generally to reduce obesity, insulin resistance, and hyperinsulinemia (the three hallmarks of Type II diabetes)--by injections into the bloodstream of a vertebrate, animal or human, of prolactin, or both prolactin and a glucocorticosteroid. The injections are made over a limited period at a time of day dependent on the normal circadian rhythm of fat and lean members of a similar species. Decreases (or increases) in body fat deposits result by treatment of an obese species (lean species) on a daily timed sequence based on circadian rhythms of the peak prolactin, or peak prolactin and peak glucocorticosteroid, blood level established for lean members (or obese members) of a similar species. Insulin resistance, and hyperinsulinemia can also be controlled in humans on a long term basis by treatment corresponding to that of the treatment for obesity. The short term daily injections reset hormonal timing in the neural centers of the brain to produce long term effects. |
| Inventor(s): | Meier; Albert H. (Baton Rouge, LA), Cincotta; Anthony H. (Baton Rouge, LA) |
| Assignee: | Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College (Baton Rouge, LA) |
| Filing Date: | May 26, 1995 |
| Application Number: | 08/452,389 |
| Claims: | 1. A process for the modification and regulation of lipid metabolism in a human, which comprises injecting prolactin into the bloodstream of the human, at a first predetermined time within the daily interval at which the prolactin level in the bloodstream of a lean insulin-sensitive human reaches its peak value, in a dosage amount and for a period sufficient to modify or reset the prolactin rhythm of said human, so that said rhythm mimics the daily prolactin level rhythm of a lean, insulin-sensitive human. 2. The process of claim 1 further comprising injecting a glucocorticosteroid daily at a second predetermined time of day, said second predetermined time being within the daily time interval at which the glucocorticosteroid level of a lean insulin-sensitive human reaches its peak value. 3. The process of claim 2 wherein the glucocorticosteroid is cortisol. 4. The process of claim 2 wherein the timed daily prolactin and glucocorticosteroid injections are each given once a day over a period ranging from about 5 days to about 10 days, and then discontinued. 5. The process of claim 1 wherein the prolactin is injected daily in amount ranging from about 175 micrograms to about 2000 micrograms, per pound of body weight. 6. The process of claim 2 wherein the prolactin is injected daily in amount ranging from about 175 micrograms to about 2000 micrograms, per pound of body weight, and the glucocorticosteroid is injected daily in amount ranging from about 175 micrograms to about 2000 micrograms, per pound of body weight. |
