Feb 02, 2023 12:30:00

Continuing a high-fat diet may destroy the brain's ability to regulate calorie intake

It is known that continuing to eat high-fat meals such as junk food

adversely affects intestinal bacteria and worsens symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, depression, and anxiety. A new study found that keeping mice on a high-fat diet disrupts the brain's ability to regulate caloric intake.

Brainstem astrocytes control homeostatic regulation of caloric intake - Clyburn - The Journal of Physiology - Wiley Online Library
https://doi.org/10.1113/JP283566

Why a high fat diet could reduce the brain's ability to regulate food intake - The Physiological Society
https://www.physoc.org/news_article/why-a-high-fat-diet-could-reduce-the-brains-ability-to-regulate-food-intake/

High-Fat Diets May Break The Brain's Ability to Regulate Calories : ScienceAlert
https://www.sciencealert.com/high-fat-diets-may-break-the-brains-ability-to-regulate-calories

A research team at Pennsylvania State University assigned mice to an ``experimental group that continues to eat a high-fat diet for 1, 3, 5, and 14 days'' and a ``control group that eats a standard diet'', and mouse food In addition to monitoring intake and body weight, we monitored neural circuits in the brain.

Experimental results showed that ``

astrocytes (astroglial cells) '', a type of glial cells present in the central nervous system, play an important role in regulating calorie intake by the brain. . Astrocytes responded to the ingestion of high-fat, high-calorie foods and regulated food intake by releasing chemical substances that control the function of the stomach. It is reported that when the research team inhibited the function of astrocytes, the ability to regulate caloric intake was lost.

In addition, the function of astrocytes in mice was maximized when they continued to eat a high-fat diet for 3 to 5 days, but when they continued to eat a high-fat diet for 10 to 14 days, astrocytes stopped responding. I understand too.

'Caloric intake appears to be regulated by astrocytes in the short-term,' said Dr. Kirsty Browning of the research team. found that astrocytes were most affected at this time, triggering normal signaling pathways to control the stomach.Over time, astrocytes seemed to become desensitized to high-fat diets. It appears that after 10 to 14 days of eating a high-fat, high-calorie diet, the astrocytes become unresponsive and the brain's ability to regulate caloric intake is lost.'

Although the current study found that astrocytes are related to their ability to regulate caloric intake, their exact interaction with the mechanism of overeating remains unclear. ``Whether loss of astrocyte activity or signaling mechanisms is responsible for overeating, or whether these events occur in response to overeating, remains to be elucidated,'' Dr. Browning said.

Also, since the study was done only in mice, further research is needed to confirm that the same applies to humans. Obesity is a major problem that increases the risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers, so researchers are unraveling the intricate brain mechanisms associated with overeating that could help shape ways to reduce obesity. I hope it will lead to development.

'We want to know if it's possible to reactivate the brain's lost ability to regulate caloric intake,' Browning said. It may lead to interventions for