Updated: 12/19/2012 22:50

NTU researchers discover new treatment to prevent muscle loss

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Researchers in Singapore have discovered a new treatment to prevent muscle loss.

Scientists from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) found that by inhibiting a protein which is naturally produced in the body, muscle loss due to ageing or illness, can be prevented.

The protein, called myostatin, controls muscle cell growth and is responsible for initiating muscle loss.

Researchers say blocking myostatin keeps the body in a "fat-burning mode" and promotes muscle growth, which could target obesity.

And because obesity is one of the main causes of diabetes, blocking myostatin could also treat diabetes.

NTU scientists have embarked on a joint clinical research with the National University Health System to further validate their findings, which were previously carried out on animals.

If successful, the team is hoping the treatment can be pharmaceutically developed in the form of pills or injections.