AMPK, short for AMP-activated protein kinase, serves as a vital sensor within cells, overseeing energy balance. It takes action when cell energy is low, setting off a chain of metabolic reactions. This helps stabilize energy. AMPK activators, whether natural or man-made, kickstart AMPK. They bring about positive changes in energy, metabolism, and health. These changes include more energy, improved fat usage, less inflammation, and helping the body fight viruses.
Dysregulation of AMPK is linked to multiple age-related diseases including diabetes, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and osteoarthritis (OA).8–12 (Li 2020)
Using AMPK activators is seen as a new way to treat health issues like metabolic syndrome, diabetes type 2, and some cancers. Some natural activators come from fruits like berries and grapes and polyphenols like resveratrol and curcumin. These compounds prompt AMPK to action. Drugs like metformin, designed to activate AMPK, have shown potential through many studies. They demonstrate a promising approach to treating various conditions.
Key Takeaways
- AMPK activators enhance energy balance, fat metabolism, and reduce inflammation.
- Natural activators like resveratrol, curcumin, and polyphenols from various sources can trigger AMPK.
- Pharmaceuticals like metformin, an AMPK activator, show promise in treating metabolic and energy-related disorders.
- AMPK activators can aid in conditions like type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and even osteoarthritis.
What is AMPK?
AMPK, or AMP-activated protein kinase, serves as a key player in monitoring cellular energy status. It maintains the balance by overseeing metabolic adjustments. This vital sensor consists of an α, β, and γ subunit, forming a complex. Upon detecting low energy through the AMP/ATP ratio, it activates. This results in a controlled metabolic response aiming to restore equilibrium.
Over the last 30 years since formally naming AMPK9, interest in the enzyme as a drug target has continued to grow. This interest has been stimulated in part by the discovery that AMPK is activated by physiological regulators that are associated with health and longevity such as caloric restriction10 and exercise11, hormones such as leptin12 and adiponectin13 and many natural products that have been used as traditional herbal medicines (reviewed in ref.14). Many of these herbal medicines such as resveratrol15 and berberine15,16,17 are being reformulated to enhance their bioavailability and efficacy. Two of the most widely used medicines in the world, metformin18, the mostly commonly used drug for type 2 diabetes, and salicylate19, the active ingredient in aspirin and salsalate, also activate AMPK, suggesting that some of their beneficial effects may be mediated in part by AMPK. (Steinberg 2019)
Understanding the Cellular Energy Switch
When energy levels dwindle, the AMPK system is triggered, focusing on the AMP/ATP ratio. AMPK’s structure, primarily the γ unit, facilitates the binding of adenosine nucleotides. Such a mechanism allows for adjustments in response to energy changes.
Activation also involves phosphorylation by kinases, like LKB1 and CaMKKβ. This process amplifies its role in maintaining energy balance and regulating metabolic pathways. Such modulation is pivotal for the cell’s energy utilization and survival.
Benefits of AMPK Activators
AMPK activators enhance energy, metabolism, and health. They work by stimulating AMPK. This action increases cellular energy, boosts fat burning, and cuts down on inflammation.
Boosting Energy, Burning Fat, and Fighting Inflammation
AMPK activators achieve several key benefits:
– They ramp up energy by increasing cellular powerhouses (mitochondria) and improving how our bodies use fuel (metabolism). This leads to better energy balance and more stamina.
– They spark up fat burning. This is done by elevating processes that break down fats (oxidation) while slowing down fat production. It leads to more effective weight control.
– They also fight inflammation. By tweaking pathways that cause swelling, they lessen the amount of harmful compounds our body makes. This can ease conditions linked to long-term inflammation.
Burning Fat
Specific to fat loss, AMPK activators do two key things. They prompt the release of stored fats (lipolysis) and crank up fat use for energy (β-oxidation). This not only helps with shedding pounds but also improves how our bodies manage sugar and fat.
Fighting Inflamation
Working against inflammation is another area of their strength. By kicking in AMPK, these molecules dampen harmful inflammatory pathways. They also lower the amounts of certain inflammatory proteins. This can be quite helpful for various conditions marked by ongoing inflammation, like certain diseases and cancer.
Fighting Viruses
New findings propose AMPK activators might even have a say in dealing with viruses. They seem to slow down how viruses multiply and boost our bodies’ virus-fighting abilities. This interest is particularly high for tackling viral infections, including those like COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2, and the herpes virus.
In addition, the AMPK/Sirt1 activators resveratrol and quercetin significantly reduce the viral titer and gene expression, as well as increase the viability of infected neurons, in herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection [40]. (Silwal 2018)
AMPK appears also to be involved in the regulation of virus production in host cells, although its exact role is not completely understood and likely depends on virus type and host cells studied. AMPK activity has been shown to be inhibited (33, 34) or activated (35 – 37) by infection with distinct viruses and mostly a repressive role of AMPK was concluded from these observations. While inhibition of AMPK may be a precondition for successful virus replication, its activation may represent a cellular response to restrict virus production. Consequently, the use of nutraceutical or pharmacological AMPK activators as antiviral drugs received attention (34, 35, 38, 39). (Doshi 2023)
AMPK Activators: Natural and Pharmaceutical Solutions
AMPK activators, found in both natural and pharmaceutical sources, are essential for unlocking our body’s energy potential. They help in maintaining a balance in our metabolism and energy levels. These compounds are vital for improving our health and well-being by regulating how our cells function.
Natural AMPK Activators – Polyphenols
The world of plants is rich with ampk activators that can assist in metabolic and energy balance. A number of Polyphenols have been shown to be key players such as resveratrol from grapes and red wine, curcumin from turmeric, and quercetin found in various fruits and vegetables work with AMPK. They bring about numerous health advantages by activating AMPK.
Despite the structural variance, numerous polyphenols are capable of activating AMPK, and they exert beneficial effects on type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. These include resveratrol from red grapes,66, 67 quercetin from many plant units including fruits, vegetables and grains,68 genistein found in a number of plants such as soybeans,69 epigallocatechin gallate from green tea,69 berberine from Coptis chinensis70 and curcumim from Curcuma longa.71 Mechanisms of activation of AMPK by these compounds appear to require the elevation of AMP levels because many of these compounds are known to inhibit mitochondrial ATP production. Resveratrol, quercetin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate and curcumin target and inhibit the mitochondrial F1F0–ATPase/ATP synthase,72, 73 whereas berberine is associated with the inhibition of respiratory chain complex I.74 The molecular mechanism of AMPK activation by resveratrol, berberine and quercetin has further been supported by the observation that these compounds fail to activate AMPK in cells expressing AMP-insensitive (R531G) AMPKγ2 subunit.60 (Kim 2016)
Pharmaceutical AMPK Activators
Pharmaceuticals also include pharmaceutical ampk activators like metformin, which are extensively researched for their benefits. Metformin, a common drug for type 2 diabetes, activates AMPK. This activation boosts glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism, aiding in the treatment of metabolic and energy-related disorders. Additionally, researchers have postulated that AMPK activation by Metformin may reduce the risk of Cancer in patients with Type 2 Diabetes.
Metformin, widely given to patients with type 2 diabetes, works by targeting the enzyme AMPK (AMP activated protein kinase), which induces muscles to take up glucose from the blood. A recent breakthrough has found the upstream regulator of AMPK to be a protein kinase known as LKB1.1,2 LKB1 is a well recognised tumour suppressor. Activation of AMPK by metformin and exercise requires LKB1, and this would also explain why exercise is beneficial in the primary and secondary prevention of certain cancers.3 We hypothesise that metformin use in patients with type 2 diabetes may reduce their risk of cancer. (Evans 2005)
Metformin has been shown to impact osteoarthritis (OA) in animal models via AMPK signaling:
- Metformin had chondroprotective effect to decelerate OA development and progression.
- Metformin enhanced AMPK expression and phosphorylation in articular chondrocytes in mice.
- Metformin lost its chondroprotective effect on OA development in AMPKα1 KO mice, suggesting that the chondroprotective effect of metformin is mediated by AMPK signalling.
- Metformin had chondroprotective effect on OA development in non-human primates.
…This study suggests that metformin may be used in clinics to treat patients with OA. (Li 2020)
Conclusion: AMPK for a Healthier You
AMPK activators, both natural and pharmaceutical, are key for better energy, metabolism, and health. They work by activating the important AMPK. This boosts energy, helps burn fat, lowers inflammation, and fights off viruses.
Taking Steps Towards Wellness – Foods as AMPK Activators
Adding AMPK activators to your daily routine is wise for metabolic health and a longer life. Many foods contain AMPK activators, like resveratrol in grapes and curcumin in turmeric. By adjusting your diet and lifestyle, you can support your wellness with AMPK.
Several foods contain compounds that can activate the enzyme AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which plays a crucial role in regulating cellular energy metabolism. Here are some of the most effective AMPK activator foods:
- Berries (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, etc.): Berries are rich in polyphenolic compounds, such as resveratrol and anthocyanins, which have been shown to activate AMPK.
- Green tea: Green tea contains epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a potent polyphenol that can activate AMPK and promote fat oxidation.
- Turmeric: Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, has been found to activate AMPK and may have potential benefits for metabolic health.
- Bitter melon: This tropical fruit contains compounds called triterpenoids, which have been shown to activate AMPK and may help regulate blood sugar levels.
- Ginger: Gingerol, the active compound in ginger, has been found to activate AMPK and may have anti-inflammatory and metabolic benefits.
- Garlic: Allicin, a compound found in garlic, has been shown to activate AMPK and may contribute to the potential health benefits of garlic.
- Olive oil: Oleuropein, a polyphenol found in olive oil, has been reported to activate AMPK and may contribute to the metabolic benefits of the Mediterranean diet.
- Vinegar: Acetic acid, the main component of vinegar, has been shown to activate AMPK and may help improve insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism.
It’s important to note that while these foods contain AMPK-activating compounds, their effects may vary depending on factors such as bioavailability, dose, and individual metabolic responses. Additionally, a balanced diet and regular physical activity are also crucial for maintaining overall metabolic health.
Pharmaceutical activators, such as metformin, are also available and have shown benefits. Talking to your doctor about these options can personalize your approach. This helps you optimize AMPK for better health outcomes.
Learning about AMPK and AMPK activators, whether from nature or medicine, is empowering. This knowledge opens doors to a healthier, more vibrant life. Seize the chance to nourish your body and mind. Take the first step towards a better metabolic health journey.
Please note that this post, whilst evidence based, is informational only, and should not be construed as medical advice.