Gut molecule slows fat burning while fasting

Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) worms lose fat more slowly when they eat less, and researchers at Scripps Research have discovered why. During fasting, a molecule produced in the worms' intestines, INS-7, travels to the brain and blocks a fat-burning signal. This molecule, although not yet studied in humans, sheds light on how the gut and brain communicate and may explain some unique benefits of fasting beyond calorie reduction.

In their study, scientists identified INS-7, an insulin-like molecule, as a key player in this process. Instead of activating insulin receptors, INS-7 blocks them, stopping the brain's production of the fat-burning hormone FLP-7. This research highlights a new gut-to-brain signaling pathway that could influence health beyond fat metabolism. The findings may lead to new treatments for obesity and diabetes by targeting these signals.