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Endocrine Abstracts (2018) 56 S2.3 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.56.S2.3

ECE2018 Symposia Salt & Sweet (3 abstracts)

Going hedonic – the role of FGF21 in the preference for sweet and alcohol

Niels Grarup


Denmark.


Human health is influenced by diet composition as well as total energy consumption; however, the circuits that control hunger and food-seeking in general are better understood than the interoceptive mechanisms that lead to consumption of specific nutrients, though the latter may impact both total energy intake and the health quality of food choices. Thus, a better understanding of the biological basis of palatable nutrient appetite is needed to improve diet quality and human health in modern food environments. However, food preferences are partly heritable. Genome-wide association studies have correlated genetic variants at the FGF21 locus with relatively increased carbohydrate and decreased protein and fat intake. FGF21 is a liver-derived hormone that exerts a range of metabolic effects in rodents and non-human primates in both physiological and pharmacological contexts. We recently found that carriers of a genetic variant in FGF21 had higher intake of candy and sweet food. Recent work furthermore clarifies the role of FGF21 in relation to alcohol intake in human genetic studies, human physiological studies and rodent mechanistic investigations. Similarly, recent genetic studies of the UK Biobank clarify the long-term impact of naturally occurring FGF21 variants on obesity and cardiovascular health. Further studies will seek to elucidate other genetic and hormonal factors involved in regulation of ‘the sweet tooth’ and other hedonic behavioural habits.

Volume 56

20th European Congress of Endocrinology

Barcelona, Spain
19 May 2018 - 22 May 2018

European Society of Endocrinology 

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