Washington D.C: As per a recent study, diabetes medication can help you reduce the food intake.
The Sahlgrenska Academy study shows that medication used for type-2 diabetes, which mimics the gut-brain hormone glucagon-like peptide-1, can affect the brain's reward system and reduce the intake of food.
Obesity and overweight have become a major global problem and can increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and type-2 diabetes, among other problems.
Some high-calorie food can affect the brain in the same way as addictive substances like drugs and alcohol. When we eat, a feeling of well-being is created through the release of dopamine in the brain's reward center.
Overconsumption is considered to be due in part to an imbalance in this system and there is great need for effective new medicines to combat overweight.
Recently, type-2 diabetes has begun to be treated with medications that resemble the body's own hormone GLP-1, such as Byetta and Victoza. The hormone GLP-1 is produced naturally, both in the intestines and in the brain. After every meal, the levels of GLP-1 in the blood increase, which lead to an increase in insulin production and a decrease in appetite.
The study shows that hormone-like medication used for type-2 diabetes can affect the brain's reward system and reduce the need for food intake.
The results are increasing the understanding of how these medications can affect the brain, says researcher Rozita Anderberg.
Medications resembling GLP-1 have become a potential new treatment for obesity and these findings can be of major clinical significance.
