Sweet Tooth Gene Connected With Less Body Fat

In a recent study conducted by the University of Copenhagen, individuals with the gene variation of FGF21, commonly an allele for a sweet tooth, tend to have less body fat. The discovery defies our popular belief that those who eat more sugar tend to carry more fat. However, those individuals who do carry this allele, tend to have higher blood pressure and carry more fat around the waist commonly described as a more 'apple shape'. The study included data from 450,000 individuals collected by the UK Biobank which included blood samples and surveys on diet as well as family genetic history. By founding out more information about the FGF21 gene, scientists are hoping to develop a drug that could potentially treat those suffering from diabetes and obesity. FGF21 is commonly associated with sugar and by possibly replacing this gene drug companies and researchers will have a better understanding on how to predict potential side effects. This research could potentially change the way we associate those who consume large amounts of sugar and diseases like diabetes and obesity and could potential be the starting information needed into finding an efficient treatment.

Article: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180411111013.htm
Original Studyhttp://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(18)30431-5

less body fat but higher blood pressure and pear shape

The University of Copenhagen conducted new research about people with the gene variation FGF21 (fibroblast growth factor 21). FGF21 hormone acts as insulin-sensitizing, meaning it improves the sensitivity of peripheral tissues to insulin, this helps diabetics with lowering their insulin needs. Through the reseach it has been found that FGF21 hormone is linked to less body fat, higher blood pressure, and a more pear shaped body. People with this gene variation consume on average more sugar (they have a higher craving for sweets). This comes as a shock to the researchers due to a lot of information about how sugar is the cause for more fat storage in the body. More sugar more body fat. however with this gene variation it is shown that they eat more sugar and have less body fat. This is still only a small portion of the larger picture of sugar and obesity/diabetes' said Professor Niels Grarup from the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research. The FGF21 may help in lower body fat then others who do not have it but it also increases the change of higher blood pressure and more fat pockets in the waist (creating a pear shaped body). They hope that with this new knowledge it will be important for the creation of drugs. This also will help with later studies.

References

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180411111013.htm

http://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext