The invention discloses methods for the chronic administration of
adenosine, which contrary to the acute delivery of the drug by injection
or infusion, acts in desensitizing adenosine receptors towards the action
of adenosine. The methods and oral compositions of adenosine triphosphate
(ATP), which is degraded to adenosine in vivo, can be used in the
treatment of disorders and diseases that are therapeutically targeted by
agonists or antagonists of adenosine receptors. One example is the
stimulation of lipolysis in achieving weight loss in humans and in the
treatment of obesity.
