2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Leptin is a peptide hormone that plays a very important role in the regulation of energy intake and expenditure in the human body. It affects appetite and metabolism. Its name from ancient Greek means "weak" and this is no coincidence, because this hormone not only reduces appetite, but also makes us more active so that we burn more energy.
The discovery of leptin in 1994 was thanks to a study by researchers on the causes of extreme obesity in a certain type of mouse. The researchers concluded that they had a mutation in the gene responsible for leptin synthesis.
As leptin suppresses appetite strongly, its absence in mutated mice led them to uncontrollable eating, which also caused obesity.
The leptin gene is also called the obese gene and is located on chromosome seven. The main part of leptin that circulates in the human body is produced by adipose tissue and only minimal amounts are secreted by the epithelial cells of the stomach and placenta.
Once in the blood, leptin is transported to the hypothalamus in the brain, where it stimulates the center of satiety and pleasure. The amount of leptin in the body increases with the increase in body fat.
Benefits of leptin
The first and most important function of leptin is that it suppresses the desire to consume food, which makes it an excellent helper in the fight against obesity.
Leptin stimulates the secretion of a number of productive and other pituitary hormones. It raises the body temperature so that more energy is expended.
Leptin counteracts two dietary stimulants and at the same time enhances the effects of another hormone that suppresses appetite - alpha MSH.
In addition to its effect on weight control, leptin has a beneficial effect on a number of other health-related factors that are determined by advancing age.
Of paramount importance is the effect of this hormone on cardiovascular health. The heart has receptors for leptinwhich affect its proper function. Problems with leptin function are a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease, slag deposition in the arteries and atherosclerosis.
Among other things, leptin has a role in the proper functioning of platelets and blood clotting. People with leptin resistance are more likely to have a stroke because impaired leptin function increases the risk of blood clots.
Because leptin affects insulin function, problems with it can lead to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
As leptin has so many different functions, there has recently been an increased interest among professionals and consumers in finding ways to improve leptin function and reduce leptin resistance.
These include dietary solutions based on specific diets that target specific leptin function; lifestyle changes, which are expressed in the practice of exercise and reduced sitting.
Leptin resistance
Many people suffer from the problem of leptin resistance. They are overweight enough to have high levels leptin in your body, but at the same time are resistant to its effect.
The main cause of leptin resistance is high levels of inflammation, which are mainly associated with weight gain.
People with leptin resistance have the symptoms of a constantly hungry person. Thus, the lack of functionality of leptin causes increased appetite and severe hunger, slow metabolism and high glucose levels.
