A high-fat diet can promote overweight and increase the risk of metabolic diseases, such as diabetes. In mice brains, this leads to measurable changes in the region of the hypothalamus. However, fat alone does not appear to be responsible for this, as reported by a research team from the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke (DIfE) and the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) in the journal Scientific Reports .
The connections between neurons in the brain are constantly changing. Diet has a significant influence on this. It is now known that a high-fat diet can cause changes in the hypothalamus that disrupt energy homeostasis and can increase the risk of metabolic diseases.
Food intake is predominantly regulated within the brain by two types of neurons: AgRP (Agouti-related peptide) and POMC (proopiomelanocortin) neurons. Both are primarily found in the hypothalamus—or more precisely, in the paraventricular nucleus, a core region of the hypothalamus—and have opposite actions. POMC neurons inhibit food intake, while AgRP neurons promote it.
Previous research showed that AgRP neuron activity in the paraventricular nucleus decreases in mice that are fed a high-fat diet. This was mostly attributed to the high fat content of the diet given to the animals. However, the food of the studied mice also contained other nutrients, including sugar.
It therefore cannot be said with certainty which macronutrient is responsible for the neuronal changes. The research.
