"Instant endurance," now in pill form

[TechBear_Seattle]

'Fitness pill' being developed

Scientists are moving closer to developing a pill which could deliver some of the benefits of exercise - even for those who do not move a muscle.

The journal Cell reports US researchers now have two possible pills which appear able to build muscle, increase stamina and even burn fat.

In tests, mice were able to run 44% further - suggesting humans may be able to do the same without prior training.

The concept is controversial because of fears they could be misused in sport.

With this in mind, lead researcher Professor Ronald Evans, from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and the Salk Institute in California, has produced a test which will allow the drugs to be detected in the urine and blood of competitors.

He says the drugs could eventually help tackle muscle wasting diseases, or help improve the health benefits of exercise in people at risk of conditions such as diabetes.

The BBC article continues at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7535770.stm

[yourout]

1. At first glance I thought this was about sex.

[jakem]

3. might be useful for that too...

i get tired after 2-3 hours of sex, so a little boost might be nice!




on edit: oops, did i say hours?

[Gidney N Cloyd]

4. I'm sure it has a lot of potential in that area...

[Indenturedebtor]

8. Me too :D Now I'm not as interested. Guess there's always whisky n/t

[unpossibles]

9. well, they need to get funding for more research somehow, right? nt

[DS1]

2. Cool

[Mojorabbit]

5. I hope this pans out

I have MS and I am good for about an hour of activity max.

[caledesi]

6. Me too. MS is not a good thing! NT

[TechBear_Seattle]

7. I also hope that the potential for sports misuse won't hamper its medical use

I am glad that the developers are proactively developing a test to measure the drug's use. Of course, that has a lot of profit potential, too; I doubt they are doing it for altruistic reasons.