In one aspect of the present invention, a pharmaceutical composition for treating a metabolic disease in a mammalian subject includes a therapeutically effective amount of (R)-all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinol and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. In another aspect of the present invention, pharmaceutical composition for treating a metabolic disease in a mammalian subject includes a therapeutically effective amount of (S)-all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinol and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. In a further aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for treating a metabolic disease in a mammalian subject. The method includes 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.
