This visual abstract depicts the findings of Søberg et al. who link FGF21 to increased sweet consumption in humans, potentially by acting on the central reward system. (Image by Søberg, et al./Cell Metabolism 2017)
A certain hormone secreted by the liver after consumption of sweet foods may be regulating our candy cravings, according to new research. Scientists first discovered the role of the hormone FGF21 in sweets consumption in rodents; their results later held up among primates, and now, humans. In this study, researchers collected self-reported dietary intake and measures of bloodstream cholesterol and glucose from participants; then, they sequenced the participants’ FGF21 gene. Their findings linked two variants of the gene with an increased consumption of larger amounts of sweets—the same two variants that had been associated with an increased carbohydrate intake in previous studies. Interestingly, the same participants reported increased alcohol intake and smoking, but that connection needs to be investigated further.
Authors:
Susanna Søberg, Camilla H. Sandholt, Naja Z. Jespersen, Ulla Toft, Anja L. Madsen, Stephanie von Holstein-Rathlou, Trisha J. Grevengoed, Karl B. Christensen, Wender L.P. Bredie, Matthew J. Potthoff, Thomas P.J. Solomon, Camilla Scheele, Allan Linneberg, Torben Jørgensen, Oluf Pedersen, Torben Hansen, Matthew P. Gillum, Niels Grarup
Corresponding author:
Matthew P. Gillum, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, Email: gillum@sund.ku.dk
Original paper published in Cell Metabolism on May 2, 2017.
