ACE inhibitors could help weight loss

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibiting drugs, currently used to treat high blood pressure, may also be useful in weight loss and the prevention of diabetes, according to a study by the Australian Howard Florey Institute.

The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found ACE-deficient mice weighed 20% less and had 50%-60% less body fat than normal mice, despite being no more active, indicating a higher metabolism. Later experiments showed the mice retained an increased metabolic rate as they matured.

ACE inhibitors and angiotensin-receptor blockers are already widely used to treat hypertension, suggesting the drugs as a potential candidate for a new weight-loss treatment.