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February 2016 | Read this issue and more at www.healthandwellnessmagazine.net |
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MAKERS
Liver Hormone Could Curb
Carb Cravings
A hormone made by the liver, FGF21, seems to
control how much we crave carbohydrates and sugar.
This same hormone also helps us slow down when
we’re overindulging. FGF21 has already been found to
help obese mice lose weight and regain their sensitivity
to insulin. A modified form of the hormone is currently
in clinical trials to test the effect in humans with
diabetes. A recent genetic study has further suggested
individuals with altered levels of FGF21 consume more
carbohydrates. A follow-up study found mice lacking
the hormone chose to drink much higher levels of
sugar-sweetened drinks than normal mice. Conversely,
those with more of the hormone reduced their sugar
intake. The study also found the hormone is produced
in response to high carbohydrate levels, where it then
enters the bloodstream and sends a signal to the brain
to suppress sugar intake. In humans, blood levels of
FGF21 triple 24 hours after a spike in blood sugar
levels. A different clinical trial shows monkeys given a
synthetic version of the hormone also opt for low-sugar
food and drinks and consume less alcohol compared
to other monkeys. All research indicates FGF21 only
seems to affect the intake of simple carbohydrates, such
as those found in cakes and cookies, that get quickly
broken down into sugars. It doesn’t seem to have any
effect on complex carbs that take longer to break down.
Though other appetite-regulating hormones such as
ghrelin (made by the gut) and leptin (made by fat cells)
act more broadly, FGF21 is the first hormone found
to act on a specific nutrient. Researchers theorize the
hormone may affect the brain’s reward pathways, dialing
down the appeal of otherwise enjoyable carbs, sweets
and alcohol. Now the search is on for hormones that
regulate complex carbohydrates, proteins and fats. If
such hormones exist and are isolated, a combination
could possibly be used to help people eat healthy,
balanced diets. For more details, see the December
issue of the journal Cell Metabolism.
FDA Approves Testing
of Promising New Cancer
Treatment
A new cancer treatment therapy that
replaces chemotherapy with a monthly
injection was approved for initial testing
at Baylor Hospital Mary Crowley Cancer
Center in Texas in January. Instead of
attempting to cure a patient’s cancer, the
new treatment focuses on controlling
the disease by using cells taken from
the tumor growing inside the patient.
After harvesting cells from the tumor,
an individualized “vaccine” is created.
The patient receives the vaccine via
injection once a month so the patient’s
immune system can keep the cancer in
check. This procedure treats cancer like
other diseases such as hypertension or
diabetes, addressing it as a chronic rather
than a deadly disease. Baylor Hospital
is the only facility cleared by the FDA
to test this new cancer treatment. Full
governmental approval of the therapy
could take five years.
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