Research
Energy balance
Increasing energy expenditure through mitochondrial uncoupling in specific organs (like the liver) is a promising therapeutic strategy for metabolic diseases, but previous attempts with non-specific uncouplers (like DNP) failed due to severe side effects.
Current non-specific energy expenditure boosters are unsafe. However, research is focusing on organ-specific strategies (like liver-targeted uncoupling) to treat metabolic diseases safely. This is not yet a available clinical option.
ModerateQualifiesMEDIUM confidence
Based on preclinical studies performed with different small molecule mitochondrial uncouplers, the authors propose increasing EE via mitochondrial uncoupling specifically in the liver as an attractive therapeutic approach to treat metabolic associated fatty liver disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, and type 2 diabetes (T2D) [49].
Why this rating
Based on preclinical studies and review of historical failures.
Source
Challenges in tackling energy expenditure as obesity therapy: From preclinical models to clinical application
Mona C. Löffler et al. · Molecular Metabolism · 2021
DOI 10.1016/j.molmet.2021.101237
narrative_reviewCited 84×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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