The new CBL-514 injection has been shown to reduce visceral fat in human trials

Early human trials of an experimental injection called CBL-514 have shown the potential to reduce deadly visceral fat.

Visceral fat, located deep in the abdomen and wrapped around internal organs, affects metabolism and influences insulin resistance. This can impact the development of type 2 diabetes.

A study published in March by the American Heart Association found that visceral fat was more associated with heart failure risk than body mass index (BMI).

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The trials tested whether the injection could reduce visceral fat deposits. They were led by Dr. W. Timothy Garvey of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Yu-Fang Ling of Caliway Biopharmaceuticals in New Taipei City, Taiwan.

Previous phase 2 trials had already shown that the drug could reduce subcutaneous fat, the layer of fat directly under the skin.

An experimental injection called CBL-514 was shown to reduce visceral fat in early human trials. (iStock)

MRI scans from two phase 2 trials showed a decrease in visceral fat in participants who received the CBL-514 drug, while visceral fat increased in those who received a placebo drug.

Participants who received CBL-514 received injections into the lower abdomen every three weeks for up to 12 weeks, with doses up to 600 milligrams.

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The number of injections given to participants depended on the thickness of their abdominal fat.

As the volume of the fat layer decreased, the number of injections also decreased.

The amount of injections participants received depended on the thickness of their abdominal fat. (iStock)

Injecting CBL-514 selectively triggers apoptosis – a process that causes cells to self-destruct – but only in fat cells, leaving neighboring cells unharmed.

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Four weeks after the final treatment, the average fat volume had decreased by 12.01% in the group that received CBL-514, while it increased by 5.68% in the group that received a placebo, SciTechDaily reported.

Participants who received CBL-514 received injections into the lower abdomen every three weeks for up to 12 weeks, with doses up to 600 milligrams. (iStock)

Potential cosmetic effects, such as a flatter stomach due to loss of subcutaneous fat, are attractive to patients, Garvey acknowledged.

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Even more important, he noted, is the decrease in body weight, improvement in blood pressure and cholesterol, and loss of visceral fat that the injection can cause, as these factors impact overall health.

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Liposuction, a common cosmetic surgical procedure, cannot remove visceral fat and therefore cannot reduce the health risks caused by a high amount of visceral fat.