The latest international health news and analysis from TIME's Christine Gorman, Simon Robinson and Bryan Walsh
Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2006

A Malaria Drug for Obesity?

Preliminary research in mice suggests that small doses of an old anti-malaria drug may help limit many of the damaging side effects of obesity. The study, conducted by scientists from Washington University in St. Louis, showed that chloroquine lowers blood pressure, improves the body's ability to deal with sugar and decreases the buildup of atherosclerosis in the arteries.

Could chloroquine, which is no longer effective against the malaria parasite in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, be re-purposed to treat obesity? Probably not. But this unusual result could lead to a better understanding of  why some people are more prone to the ill health effects of packing on extra pounds than others.

--Christine Gorman

Posted 08:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | E-Mail This Entry

Reader's Comments

We have a very large data on chloroquine, from all over the world so we know about its side effects. why not use it in atherosclerosis.

posted by: dipak | November 11, 2006

that is insane if you eat healthy that helps with obesity the doctors arent doing anything but hurting people if you ask me as well as killing them. People trust in God the one who made you and not the one who thinks that he has.

posted by: arnnetta bradford | November 12, 2006

Well, YEAH Chloroquine makes you lose weight! During the 1991 Gulf War we were issued and ordered to take chloroquine tablets daily. They warned us not to take them on an empty stomach, but one day I took my tablet when I didn't have time to eat. 20 minutes later my entire gastrointestinal tract was EMPTY.

I lost a lot of weight during Operation Desert Storm because I always lose a lot of weight when I'm living outdoors, have to walk everywhere I need to go, and don't have time to eat much. The chloroquine only made my weight loss more drastic because it cleaned me out if I skipped a meal.

The only good thing about chloroquine was that it cleared up my perpetual acne. I don't no why, nor did I expect it to do so.

posted by: Lisa | November 15, 2006

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