Scientists Reveal How the Brain Curbs Cravings for Sugary Food
The new study recommends for the incredibly accurate targeting of a specific region of the brain, which could be helpful in accurately controlling the sugar consumption of a person.
Several years back, scientists found that the liver is discharging a hormone to suppress a person's consumption of sweet-tasting food once he has consumed high amounts of sugar.
Now, a new study that the University of Iowa led has brought precisely how the mechanism works and which part of the brain it goes.
What the scientists specifically discovered is called the FGF21 or the "fibroblast growth factor 21." Science defines this mechanism as a liver-derived hormone that has several metabolic functions, including the regulation of acute insulin sensitivity.
Among FGF21's most interesting functions is how it impacts an individual's preference in terms of sugary food consumption.
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How the FGF21 Works
Prior study has exposed when one eats a protein-low meal and high-carb meal, the liver augments or improves the expression of FGF21.
Among the important functions of this hormone is to move through the brain and stop a person from eating more sweet foods to get rid of greater "metabolic stress" and shield his body from succeeding health conditions such as diabetes and obesity.
The new research provides an initial detailed understanding of precisely which part of the brain the FGF21 acts to curb one's preference for sweet foods.
According to the new study's head, Matthew Potthoff, this is the first research "that's really identified" where the hormone acts in the brain.
The said new research also offers fascinating insights into how the hormone regulates an individual's guar intake.
In numerous detailed experiments in mice, the scientists found that the mechanism crossing the "blood-brain barrier" acts directly on particular glutamatergic neurons located in the "ventromedial hypothalamus."
Through amplification of sensitivity of such neurons to sugar, FGF21 is designed for the reduction of sugar intake of a person.
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Other Drugs Being Tested to Curb Craving for Sugary Food
Such a mechanism was uncovered to be highly particular in its downstream impacts. The actions of FGF21, the research found, in the "ventromedial hypothalamus" do not have any effect on the total caloric consumption or energy exertion.
Therefore, it appears that this process is exclusively "working to slow." Or, the said process is acting to stop an organism that consumes foods rich in sugar.
In connection to this, researchers have suggested the FGF21 is only one of the countless liver-brain hormonal transmissions that organisms utilize to control the intake of nutrition.
Researchers have theorized, such mechanisms developed to help lead organisms away from hunting or searching for foods that contain macronutrients which are not essential in the body.
The finding provides convincing future study pathways determining whether medicines aiming this mechanism can be devised to help curb the sugar intake of a person particularly.
Furthermore, the research has noted there are medicines currently going through trials for the treatment of obesity and diabetes that are improved FGF21 forms.
However, this particular study recommends the incredibly accurate targeting of this specific region of the brain, which could be helpful in specifically controlling the sugar consumption of a person.
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