Use of .gamma.-linolenic acid and related materials alone or with zinc or .beta.-lactam antibiotics to treat obesity.

A method for the treatment of obesity in an animal such as a human, comprises administering to the animal an effective amount of a peptide which comprises the carboxyl-terminal sequence of a growth hormone, particularly the carboxyl-terminal sequence of human growth hormone containing amine acid residues 177-191. A pharmaceutical composition for use in the treatment of obesity is also disclosed.

N,N-dimethyl-1-[ 1-(4-chlorophenyl)cyclobutyl] -3-methylbutylamine hydrochloride is used in the treatment of obesity in humans.

A method for the treatment of obesity in an animal such as a human, comprises administering to the animal an effective amount of a peptide which comprises the carboxyl-terminal sequence of a growth hormone, particularly the carboxyl-terminal sequence of human growth hormone containing amine acid residues 177-191. A pharmaceutical composition for use in the treatment of obesity is also disclosed.

A method for the treatment of obesity in an animal such as a human, comprises administering to the animal an effective amount of a peptide which comprises an analogue of the carboxyl-terminal sequence of a growth hormone, particularly an analogue of the carboxyl-terminal sequence of human growth hormone containing amino acid residues 177-191. A pharmaceutical composition for use in the treatment of obesity is also disclosed.

The invention describes a previously unknown gene, termed 5'OT-EST, which is responsible for inducing an obesity and/or infertility phenotype in transgenic animals, and transgenic animals comprising mutants of 5'OT-EST which are useful for assaying compounds for the treatment of obesity and/or infertility.

A method of utilizing 2,6-dihydroxynicotinic acid as an agent for inhibiting the synthesis of lipids and, consequently, reducing the weight of accumulated fat in warm-blooded animals, is described.

A method and therapeutic composition for the treatment of obesity by internal administration in unit dosage form of carnitine or a suitably active derivative thereof. For example, carnitine may be administered either alone, or with another weight reducing preparation, or in the course of a restricted caloric dietary program for treatment of obesity.

The inhibition of fatty acid synthesis is obtained in biological systems by utilizing a specific stereoisomer of hydroxycitric acid and derivatives thereof such as esters or lactones and the non-toxic salts of these compounds. It is believed that the present method involves the inhibition of citrate cleavage enzyme. Inhibition of fatty acid synthesis by the present method is useful in the treatment of obesity.

2,3,4,10-Tetrahydro-3,3-dimethyl-10-phenylpyrimido[1,2-a]indol-10-ol and the pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof are useful in treatment or preventing obesity in mammals. The compounds may be administered in pharmaceutical compositions, optionally with one or more vitamins.