- Fragments of Bird Flu Virus Found in 1 in 5 Milk Samples
- Clients Got HIV Through ‘Vampire Facial’ Microneedling Treatments
- Take the Stairs & Step Up to Longer Life
- ‘Drug Take Back Day’ is Saturday: Check for Leftover Opioids in Your Home
- Loneliness Can Shorten Lives of Cancer Survivors
- A Stolen Dog Feels Like Losing a Child, Study Finds
- Healthier Hearts in Middle Age Help Black Women’s Brains Stay Strong
- Better Scans Spot Hidden Inflammation in MS Patients
- Which Patients and Surgeries Are ‘High Risk’ for Seniors?
- Vancomycin May Be Losing Strength Against Common Deadly Infection
Eating Feeds ‘Feel Good’ Hormones in the Brain
Eating prompts the brain to release “feel good” hormones, known as endorphins, a new study shows.
Researchers found the regulation of these naturally occurring opioids, which can produce a sense of pleasure or euphoria, may help the body know when it’s satisfied. On the flip side, overeating associated with the overstimulation of this system may contribute to obesity, the researchers noted.
For the study, Finnish researchers, led by Lauri Nummenmaa from Turku PET Center, scanned the brains of 10 male volunteers using positron emission tomography (PET). The participants were instructed to fast overnight and were injected with a radioactive compound, which binds to opioid receptors in the brain.
Using the PET scans, the scientists measured the radioactivity in the men’s brains after they broke their fast and ate a pizza. The scans were repeated after the volunteers consumed a less mouth-watering liquid meal that contained the same amount of calories as the pizza.
The investigators found that both meals triggered a significant release of endogenous opioids in the brain. However, only the pizza led to a notable increase in pleasant feelings, the researchers said.
The nutritional drink prompted the brain to release more endorphins. But this meal didn’t produce feelings of enjoyment. This suggests opioid release in the brain associated with eating is independent of the pleasure associated with eating.
The study authors said their findings could help scientists gain a better understanding of the predictors of addiction and eating disorders, and eventually lead to new treatments for obesity.
The study was published recently in The Journal of Neuroscience.
More information
The U.S. National Institutes of Health has more on the human brain and how it works.
Source: HealthDay
Copyright © 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.