Hormone discovered that turns the brain into a calorie-burning machine

Scientists from São Paulo State University made an important discovery: the intestinal hormone FGF19 can directly influence the brain, activating fat-burning processes and stabilizing blood sugar levels. The study is published in the scientific journal Endocrinology and Metabolism (EM).

As researchers found out, FGF19 affects the hypothalamus - the brain center that controls energy balance. Under its influence, the activity of brown adipose tissue increases, inflammation decreases, and the body's resistance to cold improves.

"Previously, we knew that this hormone suppresses appetite. Now it has become clear that it also stimulates energy expenditure, which makes it a powerful tool in the fight against obesity," said Professor Elena Barboza, project leader.

During experiments, scientists injected the hormone directly into the brains of overweight mice. Soon after, a noticeable increase in fat burning was observed. This confirmed the ability of the hypothalamus to receive signals from FGF19 and trigger energy expenditure.

Of particular interest was the fact that cold enhanced the brain's response to the hormone, indicating its important role in thermoregulation and opening the way to developing drugs that activate the body's natural mechanisms.

In conclusion, the research team analyzed over 50 thousand hypothalamic cells, determining which ones are sensitive to FGF19. The next step is to find a way to stimulate the production of this hormone naturally.