Tired of diets with no weight loss? Scientists say cutting c ..

For those who have tried every diet trend only to find the scale unmoved, science may finally have an explanation. A new study published in Nature Metabolism highlights the role of a sulfur containing amino acid called cysteine in regulating how the body stores and burns fat.

Researchers at Pennington Biomedical found that calorie restriction lowers cysteine levels in white fat. This is significant because white fat stores energy, while brown fat burns it to generate heat. When cysteine levels drop, white fat cells can convert into brown fat cells, dramatically boosting fat burning. In animal studies, removing cysteine altogether triggered substantial weight loss, increased fat utilization, and even a forty percent reduction in body temperature without damaging tissues.

Human trials supported these findings. Men and women on a moderate calorie deficit showed reduced cysteine in their fat tissue, along with improved muscle health, lower inflammation, and steady weight loss. The researchers examined thousands of metabolites and consistently observed cysteine depletion as a key marker of metabolic change.

According to Dr Krisztian Stadler, who directs the Oxidative Stress and Disease laboratory at Pennington, these findings suggest weight management strategies may not need to rely solely on calorie restriction. His colleague Dr Eric Ravussin noted that cysteine depletion could reshape how we approach energy metabolism, adding that the study has revealed a powerful new player in fat regulation.

The discovery opens the door to therapies that may one day encourage the body to turn stubborn white fat into calorie burning brown fat. For anyone weary of diet rules and endless restrictions, this research offers a refreshing reminder that sometimes science, not suffering, moves the needle.
**This news was published on Times of India on 27th August, 2025.

 

 

 

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