Bless America, the land of wondrous innovation: scientists are developing a gum that might help people lose weight by suppressing their appetite while they chew. It's the perfect snack to pop while you wait for that pizza you ordered from your TV to arrive.
The gum is being developed by Syracuse University chemist Robert Doyle, who discovered that human PYY, a hormone that helps people feel full after eating, can be delivered into the bloodstream orally. “PYY is an appetite-suppressing hormone,” said Doyle in a release from Syracuse. “But, when taken orally, the hormone is destroyed in the stomach and that which isn’t destroyed has difficulty crossing into the bloodstream through the intestines.” Hence the development of the gum, which, contrary to popular belief, will not actually remain in your digestive system for seven years.
Doyle's study tracking his efforts to get PPY into the bloodstream orally was released earlier this month, and he's working on concocting the gum now. “If we are successful, PYY-laced gum would be a natural way to help people lose weight,” he says. “They could eat a balanced meal, then chew a stick of gum. The PYY supplement would begin to kick in about three to four hours later, decreasing their appetite as they approach their next meal.” Gum science expert Violet Beauregard is currently consulting on the project, which she called "a wonderful idea" before being rolled off-screen.
