K., Nichols, L., Chen, Y., Lu, B
This makes its systemic presence very transient
In animal studies, AOD-9604 reduced body weight gain by over 50% in obese mice during a 19-day treatment period, and significantly increased fat oxidation all without affecting insulin sensitivity or glucose regulation.[1,3] A randomized controlled trial in humans found that participants taking 1 mg of AOD-9604 daily lost an average of 2.8 kg (~6 lbs) over 23 weeks, compared to 0.8 kg (~1.7 lbs) in the placebo group
This led to the creation of a derivative called Bremelanotide, which is now approved in some countries as a treatment for sexual dysfunction
However, mechanistic studies show berberine improves insulin sensitivity through AMPK activation, while GLP-1 reduces appetite and improves glucose control through distinct pathways
"Profilometric evaluation of photodamage after topical retinaldehyde and retinoic acid treatment." J Am Acad Dermatol