Studies have shown that a pill (soon be available) mimics the effects of regular exercise. Yes, that what studies have shown. Well, one study. Recently, the Salk Institute released a research report describing performance gains exhibited by sedentary mice. The study showed that impressive gains in treadmill tests were attributed not to aerobic exercise, weight lifting, stretching, yoga, Pilates, coaching or mentoring, but to a new drug. Yes, by taking this performance-enhancing drug, sedentary mice were able to perform in a manner that suggested they were fit as rodent fiddles.
The implication, of course, is that couch potato humans might soon be able to take a pill containing this potent ingredient and gain the same benefits that we associate with vigorous exercise. We all know or believe that the health benefits of exercise, at least to this point in time, have been available only the old-fashioned way - that is, earned from the tribulations of vigorous workouts. Now the hope is that increases in performance capacity, such as those exhibited by mice on the new wonder drug, might be available to humans. All a person, even a sedentary one, need do is pop a fitness pill with the right ingredient.
Is this serious science or science fiction? Is it real or hype? Did the mice really perform heroically on those treadmills, or were these trials done with smoke and mirrors?
I don't know. However, I think skepticism is called for. Later, if it turns out that this is the beginning of a new era where everyone can be fit AND sedentary, I'll enthusiastically embrace the new reality.
"Non Sequitur is the name of Wiley Miller's wry cartoon look at the absurdities of everyday life. The August 2, 2008 cartoon, which first appeared four years ago (Wiley's on vacation at present) contains this dialogue:
Q. What's the secret to success as a TV pundit?
A. The studies have shown ploy.
Q. Uh, What's that?
A. Just say, Studies have shown first, then all of your talking points go unquestioned, no matter how stupid they are. The trick, of course, is saying it without giggling.
Q. Um... What happened to critical thinking?
A. Studies have shown that's for losers.
When TV pundits reported on what the most recent studies have shown ploy, my reaction was this: If you think a pill is going to make you fit and provide the health benefits of vigorous daily exercise anytime soon, say within the next century, you need emergency surgery - so that a brain can be inserted into your head. You can't possibly have one if you think a fitness pill is going to make you fit.
Anyone who missed this story must have been under the Arctic ice cap. The tale was everywhere: pundits on all news shows went wild over it. Essentially, a drug called Aicar (who comes up with these names?) was shown to increase mouse performance by 44 percent in a single month of illegal doping. (If it's not illegal for mice to take such pills, it ought to be. It's not fair to the mice that train hard and use only natural methods to perform at their best.) The drug seems to mimic a by-product of energy metabolism. It signals the cell that energy has been burned - which is tantamount in cell speak of saying, send more.
If this were not enough for the sedentary hopefuls, the media pundits said studies have shown another drug tested even better - enabling the treadmill rodent superstars to gain a 75 percent increase in endurance - but in this case, the mice had to do a little exercise as well as swallow the pill. Maybe the non-exercise oriented humans hearing this will conclude that a 44 percent performance increase will do nicely, thank you very much.
Before you begin a Google search for the location of the nearest Aicar dealer, consider that unfortunate law of nature called unintended consequences. Another term for this phenomenon is side effects.
If you start getting your workout from a pill instead of a swimming pool, treadmill or other methods of doing work with your body beyond swallowing, consider the unforeseen costs that might be incurred. Besides sudden death from heart stoppage, recall the consequences of thalidomide a few decades back. Performance boosts could come at a price.
Red wine also activates pathways to improved performance. In red wine, the key ingredient that does this is resveratrol. A couple years ago, studies showed that mice were able to run twice as far as usual on a treadmill under the influence of resveratrol before waving the white flag of surrender (i.e., collapsing).
Resveratrol, Aicar and all the other quick fix, magic bullets are not going to replace exercise as the healthy way to become and stay fit and live well. For that, you need a vigorous daily exercise regimen - and a good sense of humor.
If I might paraphrase Richard Nixon, let me say this: I am not a Luddite. I am not opposed to technological progress or change. Who would object to making fitness available to all at half the price, or for nothing (energy expended) at all, for that matter? Not I. Bring on the Brave New World - I too would welcome more performance for less the effort.
But, don't overlook Wiley's advice - there has to be more to the promise than the headline studies have shown. Curb your enthusiasm - at least for the present. If you already exercise vigorously, keep it going and if not, give daily workouts some consideration.
