The
study leader, Dr. Matthew Gillum , who is an assistant professor of biological
sciences said that data was obtained after assessing
subjects and was useful in identifying the hormonal
basis of a sweet tooth.
The study played an important role in
understanding the influence of the liver in regulating the food that is eaten.
Nutrients from the food pass into the liver after they pass through the stomach
and the intestine. The study found that
Dr. Gillum stated that the liver could be
a regulatory system that could control the different nutrient systems. Previous
studies showed that
Dr.
Gillum and colleagues wanted to determine if the association between a sweet
tooth and the levels of the FGF21 hormone were only among rodents or if they
were also present in humans.
‘FGF21 hormone is associated with satiety or feeling of fullness on eating sugar. The more the level of FGF21 hormone, the lower the craving for sugar.’
FGF21 Hormone in Humans
The
research team used data from a study called
Inter99 which utilized self-reported dietary intake along with
measurements of serum cholesterol and glucose from participants. The FGF21 gene
of the study participants was sequenced to identify the gene polymorphism; 2
variants of the gene that were linked to carbohydrate intake in previous
studies were focused on.
The
study found that
- Individuals who
had one of the two variants were found to be more likely to eat sweets and
candies.
- There was a
strong association between these gene variants and intake of sweets.
- there was also an
association between these 2 gene variants and alcohol intake and smoking,
though further studies are required.
- There was no
association between type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Association of FGF21 Hormone and Sweet Intake
A
clinical study was set up by Dr. Gillum and colleagues to identify how the
hormone levels regulate sweet intake. 51 people from the study who strongly
liked or strongly disliked sweets were included in the study.
- The FGF21 levels
were measured during a 12 hour fast
- The levels of the
hormone were measured over a period of 5 hours after the participants
consumed sugary drinks that equaled 2 cans of coke
The
study found that
- The level of
hormone FGF21 was 50% higher
among people who disliked sweets when compared to people who did.
- After the sugary
drinks were consumed, the level of FGF21 hormones were found to be the
same in both the groups.
The
study provided insights into the probable association between sweet intake and
the level of the FGF21 hormone. The scientists involved in the study will be
carrying out a larger study to fully understand the effect of this gene on
sugar intake.
Sugar Intake in India
Sugar
is believed to be discovered by Indians and its consumption is a part of the
Indian culinary practices. From sweets to drinks to even curries, most dishes
have a dash of sugar. India is the second largest producer and consumer of
sugar in the world. The high intake of
sugar has led to a host of conditions like
obesity and
type 2 diabetes. Considering the high pre-disposition for
diabetes and obesity in India, it is important to lower consumption of sugar to
less than
10% of the daily energy
intake.
The
identification of
FGF21 hormone in
regulating sugar intake could play an important role in treating people with a
'sweet tooth'.
Reference :- Sugar Intake, Obesity, and Diabetes in India - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4277009/)
Source: Medindia
