Two different groups of scientists conducted experiments on mice and monkeys, during which they found out that the factor responsible for the consumption of sweets and alcohol is not in the human head, but in the liver. The hormone FGF21, which is synthesized in the liver, regulates the amount of sweets and alcohol consumed.
Both studies are published in the journal Cell Metabolism. The EurekAlert portal writes about them briefly. The hormone found in the liver of mice and primates is called FGF21. According to one of the study's authors Stephen Cleaver from the University of Texas at Dallas (USA), it "can have a powerful effect on behavior, affecting the central nervous system, including humans."
“Of course, at first glance you might think that FGF21 and associated nerve cells can be turned into a universal remedy for alcoholism, overeating, diabetes and other metabolic disorders, but there is no need to rush. It is extremely important to understand that these neurons are responsible for the pleasure response and are associated with our mood, so it is necessary to test whether FGF21 will cause depression,”adds the scientist.
Photo: eurekalert.org
Experiments have shown that the hormone is synthesized in the liver in response to sugar intake, and then it affects appetite. After FGF21 enters the bloodstream and, acting on the hypothalamus, affects the craving for sweets. Scientists have tested what happens if the body of mice does not produce this hormone, or vice versa, receives it in excess. In the first case, the rodents could not stop eating sweet food, and in the second, the introduction of even a small amount of FGF21 completely deprived them of their cravings for sweets. Similar results were obtained from experiments on monkeys.
Both groups of scientists agree that more research is needed before applying these findings to medical practice. According to biologists, the liver may contain a number of other hormones that are responsible for craving for fatty and protein foods.
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