First human Lac-Phe trial began dosing in 2025. Key gaps: targets, transport, tissue sources.
This collab started from an email after I read Peter + Jill’s abstract — delighted it became a full review.
With Peter Oni, Jill Rourke, Mohammed Hankir & colleagues.

3/4 What we cover (Fig 4) 🧬
• Emerging therapeutic potential: exogenous Lac-Phe improves outcomes across animal models (incl obesity, colitis, spinal cord injury) via appetite + immunomodulatory mechanisms.

2/4 What we cover (Fig 3) 🧪
• What drives Lac-Phe up in humans: strongest signals from high-intensity exercise, feeding, and metformin — also elevated in sepsis, PKU, and mitochondrial disease.

1/4 New open-access review out in JPET (final version-of-record): Lac-Phe (N-lactoyl-phenylalanine) 🏃🍽️🧠
A signalling metabolite that rises after exercise + meals and links metabolism to appetite/energy balance.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...