Compositions and methods for treating metabolic diseases

5:

• A method of treating a metabolic disease in a mammalian subject, the method comprising administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinoid, all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinoid derivative, or agent capable of modulating the level of at least one all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinoid or all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinoid derivative in the subject.

6:

• The method of claim 5, the level the at least one all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinoid being modulated by administering all-trans-retinol:all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinol saturase and/or a compound that modulates the level and/or activity of all-trans-retinol:all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinol saturase in a subject.

7:

• The method of claim 5, the pharmaceutical composition being administered to at least one cell expressing G-protein-coupled receptor 40 (GPR40) and/or a polynucleotide encoding GPR40.

8:

• The method of claim 5, the pharmaceutical composition promoting lipolysis in the subject

9:

• The method of claim 5, the pharmaceutical composition promoting hepatic uptake and esterification of free fatty acids.

10:

• The method of claim 5, the pharmaceutical composition comprising the all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinoid comprising at least one of (R)-all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinol, (S)-all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinol, (R)-all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinoic acid, or (S)-all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinoic acid, or an ester thereof.

11:

• The method of claim 10, the metabolic disease including obesity or an obesity-related condition.

12:

• A method of treating obesity or an obesity-related condition in a mammalian subject, the method comprising administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinoid, all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinoid derivative, or agent capable of modulating the level of at least one all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinoid or all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinoid derivative in the subject.

13:

• The method of claim 12, the level the at least one all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinoid being modulated by administering all-trans-retinol:all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinol saturase and/or a compound that modulates the level and/or activity of all-trans-retinol:all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinol saturase in a subject.

14:

• The method of claim 12, the pharmaceutical composition being administered to at least one cell expressing G-protein-coupled receptor 40 (GPR40) and/or a polynucleotide encoding GPR40.

15:

• The method of claim 12, the pharmaceutical composition promoting lipolysis in the subject.

16:

• The method of claim 12, the pharmaceutical composition promoting hepatic uptake and esterification of free fatty acids.

17:

• The method of claim 12, the pharmaceutical composition comprising the all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinoid comprising at least one of (R)-all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinol, (S)-all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinol, (R)-all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinoic acid, or (S)-all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinoic acid, or an ester thereof.

18:

• A method for increasing insulin production in a mammalian subject, the method comprising administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinoid, all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinoid derivative, or agent capable of modulating the level of at least one all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinoid or all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinoid derivative in the subject.

19:

• The method of claim 18, the level the at least one all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinoid being modulated by administering all-trans-retinol:all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinol saturase and/or a compound that modulates the level and/or activity of all-trans-retinol:all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinol saturase in a subject.

20:

• The method of claim 18, the pharmaceutical composition being administered to at least one cell expressing G-protein-coupled receptor 40 (GPR40) and/or a polynucleotide encoding GPR40.

21:

• The method of claim 18, the pharmaceutical composition promoting lipolysis in the subject.

22:

• The method of claim 18, the pharmaceutical composition promoting hepatic uptake and esterification of free fatty acids.

23:

• The method of claim 18, the pharmaceutical composition comprising the all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinoid comprising at least one of (R)-all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinol, (S)-all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinol, (R)-all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinoic acid, or (S)-all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinoic acid, or an ester thereof.