Milk, Beer Molecule Could Fight Weight Gain: Study

A molecule found in milk and possibly even beer could help fight weight gain, a new study suggests.

Research published in the journal Cell Metabolism shows that a molecule called nicotinamide riboside could help mice gain less weight when fed a high-fat diet. The molecule also seems to play a part in increasing endurance in mice.

The molecule, which may work by influencing cells' mitochondria, also didn't seem to have any side effects in the mice even when given to them in high doses, researchers found.

"It really appears that cells use what they need when they need it, and the rest is set aside without being transformed into any kind of deleterious form," study researcher Carles Canto said in a statement.

The researchers came from the Ecole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne and Weill Cornell Medical College, as well as other institutions.

Just last year, Italian researchers found that beer consumption may lower the risk of heart disease, similar to that of wine consumption. However, they found no heart benefits from drinking spirits.