{"id":22201,"date":"2019-12-27T13:21:16","date_gmt":"2019-12-27T21:21:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/?p=22201"},"modified":"2020-07-22T21:08:02","modified_gmt":"2020-07-23T04:08:02","slug":"gsk3b-inhibition-potent-pathway-improve-brain-function-mood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/blog\/gsk3b-inhibition-potent-pathway-improve-brain-function-mood\/","title":{"rendered":"All About GSK3B: What It Does, How To Inhibit It, And More"},"content":{"rendered":"

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta<\/em> \u2014 or just \u201cGSK3\u03b2\u201d for short \u2014 is an important enzyme that may be involved in a number of different important functions throughout the body. For example, GSK3B has been implicated in energy metabolism, cell development, and immune system regulation. Additionally, some research may suggest that inhibiting<\/em> this enzyme could have some potential \u201cbeneficial\u201d effects \u2014 but what does the current science really<\/em> say? Read on to learn more about GSK3B, what it does, and some lifestyle, environmental, dietary, and genetic factors that may affect it!<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What is GSK3B?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta<\/em> — or just \u201cGSK3\u03b2\u201d for short — is an enzyme that has been linked to many important functions throughout the body and brain, including energy metabolism, neuronal cell development, and the regulation of the immune system [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Some early research has also implicated GSK3B in the development or progression of various health conditions such as diabetes, inflammation, cancer, Alzheimer’s<\/a> and bipolar disorder [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Glycogen synthase kinase 3<\/em> (GSK-3) acts as an essential \u201cbrake\u201d on many growth-signaling pathways, including WNT and insulin<\/a>. GSK-3 has high activity in resting tissues, and is inhibited upon cellular stimulation [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Purported Benefits of GSK3B Inhibition<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Some preliminary research has suggested a variety of potential \u201cbenefits\u201d associated with inhibiting the activity of the GSK3B enzyme.<\/p>\n

In the sections below, we\u2019ll discuss some of the various roles or effects that GSK3B (or its inhibition) has been reported to have in a variety of health conditions. However, keep in mind that the science behind these effects is still preliminary, and none of these effects have been confirmed in humans — nor have they been officially adopted for any medical or other purposes.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In other words, there is still \u201cinsufficient evidence\u201d<\/strong> for these effects of GSK3B in humans, and much more research will be needed to confirm them, as well as determine how they might be relevant to the development or treatment of any particular health condition.<\/p>\n

As always, be sure to discuss any significant lifestyle, dietary, or other changes with your doctor first!<\/strong><\/p>\n

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE:<\/span><\/h2>\n

1) Metabolic Disorders<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Glycogen synthase kinase-3<\/em> (GSK-3) is believed by some researchers to have an important role in the regulation of glycogen synthesis, protein synthesis, gene transcription, and the development (differentiation<\/em>) of several types of cells throughout the body [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

According to some early research in animals, increased levels of GSK3 have been reported in certain metabolic health conditions, such as type-II diabetes and obesity [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

In studies of cells and animals, compounds that inhibit GSK3 have been reported to have some potential \u201canti-diabetic\u201d effects [R<\/a>]. Some of these effects may be due to the effects of GSK3B on insulin sensitivity, glucose levels, and glycogen synthesis [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Additionally, one study has reported that over-expression or over-activity of GSK3 may impair the ability of insulin<\/a> to stimulate the disposal of glucose and the activity of the enzyme of glycogen synthase<\/em>. These mechanisms, in turn, have been hypothesized to play some yet-unclear role in the development of obesity (in rats) or type-2 diabetes (in humans) [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Another study in animals has reported that the levels of GSK3B activity in the hypothalamus may be involved in the regulation of appetite and overall food intake. The authors of this study have hypothesized that this may be due to GSK3B\u2019s interactions with the appetite-related hormone leptin<\/a>, and that these interactions may, in turn, be responsible for weight gain and glucose intolerance (especially in animals with high-fat diets<\/a>) [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, much more research will be needed to pin down the precise roles of GSK3B in humans, and what potential mechanisms might be involved.<\/p>\n

2) Inflammation and Pain<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

According to some early research, inhibitors of GSK3\u03b2 have been reported to have a potential effect on the symptoms of some neuro-inflammatory<\/a> conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis<\/a>, and AIDS-related dementia [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Additionally, one cell study has implicated GSK3B in resistance to oxidative stress<\/a>, which further suggests a potential connection to inflammation [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

While the precise mechanisms involved are not yet known, some preliminary evidence from animal- and cell-based studies have suggested a few potential mechanisms and effects. According to these studies, inhibiting GSK3B may result in:<\/p>\n