Study finds fructose and glucose affect hunger neurons differently
6 reported
Researchers at the Monell Chemical Senses Center have discovered that fructose and glucose, despite containing the same number of calories, influence the brain in different ways. The study, published June 10 in the journal Neuron, found that in mice, glucose strongly reduced activity in hunger-promoting brain cells, while fructose had a much weaker effect. The researchers identified a specific signaling route for fructose involving the gut hormone PYY and the vagus nerve, which was less effective than the pathway used by glucose. Mice eventually developed preferences for sugars that corresponded to the degree of hunger neuron inhibition, and they showed a preference for high-fructose corn syrup, which suppressed hunger neuron activity more strongly than fructose alone. The findings challenge the assumption that hunger-related neurons primarily track calorie intake regardless of sugar type. The research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and other organizations.
What’s reported
The study was published June 10 in the journal Neuron.
Researchers recorded neural activity in mice after exposure to fructose and glucose.
Fructose increased levels of the gut hormone PYY, which signaled through the vagus nerve, leading to a modest reduction in activity of AgRP neurons that drive hunger.
Glucose did not rely on the PYY-Y2 vagus nerve pathway and strongly suppressed AgRP neuron activity.
Mice showed a preference for high-fructose corn syrup, which suppressed AgRP neuron activity more strongly than fructose alone.
The findings suggest hunger-related neurons can distinguish between different sugars through separate biological pathways.
Misconceptions
The article addresses the assumption that AgRP neurons primarily track calorie intake regardless of sugar source, stating the findings call this into question.
Key figures
Amber Alhadeff, PhD, senior author and Monell Member.
Aaron D. McKnight, Alan de Araujo, Fang-Yu Hsu, Alexandra G. Vargas-Elvira, Alisha A. Acosta, Miliani M. Smith, Wisdom Iwueze, Guillaume de Lartigue, Amber L. Alhadeff (authors of the journal reference).
Sources: ScienceDaily
