There has been a fair amount of hype surrounding fibroblast growth factor 21, or FGF21, one of a handful of similar hormones that regulate the body’s energy balance. FGF21 was discovered only relatively recently and plays a series of complex regulatory roles in several different organs. Secreted by the liver, FGF21 is primarily responsible for suppressing the brain's sugar craves and signalling for the body to begin burning excess fat.1 While there is much yet to learn, its production has been shown to have positive effects for weight loss.2
In a recent study, researchers in Dallas, Texas uncovered new details about the hormone with big implications for keto dieters. Spoiler alert: it’s good news.
FGF21 as one of many regulating hormones
As with leptin, ghrelin, and other hormones regulating energy consumption, the body can build up a resistance to FGF21. This is often the case among people dealing with obesity. Indeed, abnormally high levels of FGF21 are often a sign of such a resistance, as the body tries to produce more of the hormone to compensate for its lack of sensitivity to the signals it sends out.
As the data piles up on this recently discovered hormone, FGF21 has been found to play an important role in promoting weight loss and increasing metabolism.3 In addition to this, it is responsible in part for regulating the process of fatty acid oxidation – that is, of burning the body’s stored fat – which brings us to its relationship to the keto diet.
A study of keto mice
In the Dallas study, researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center examined the connection between FGF21 and thirst, and how it promoted water drinking in mice under various conditions.4 The consumption of alcohol by mice increased their FGF21 production and suppressed cravings for sugar and alcohol in favor of pure water. Likewise, the ketogenic diet increased thirst in mice, as more FGF21 was produced in order to help them process stored fat.
Like other hormones, FGF21 plays an important part in the body’s homeostasis and energy production, and this study helps to establish the link between keto dieting and FGF21 levels. While research on FGF21, in general, remains in its early stages, this study adds to the body of work demonstrating the positive influence of the keto diet on hormone levels and the body's energy balance.
NUTRITIONAL DISCLAIMER
The content on this website should not be taken as medical advice and you should ALWAYS consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. We provide nutritional data for our recipes as a courtesy to our readers. We use Total Keto Diet app software to calculate the nutrition and we remove fiber and sugar alcohols, like erythritol, from the total carbohydrate count to get to the net carb count, as they do not affect your blood glucose levels. You should independently calculate nutritional information on your own and not rely on our data. The website or content herein is not intended to cure, prevent, diagnose or treat any disease. This website shall not be liable for adverse reactions or any other outcome resulting from the use of recipes or recommendations on the Website or actions you take as a result. Any action you take is strictly at your own risk.
Dr. Rosmy Barrios, MD is an aesthetic medicine specialist whose work focuses on patients who are treated for obesity, metabolic syndrome, and other weight-related issues through nutritional analysis, keto diet programs, and supporting medications.
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