FGF19 Hormone Shows Promise for Future Obesity and Diabetes Therapies

New research in mice reveals that the intestinal hormone FGF19 can signal the brain to increase energy use, activate thermogenic fat, and improve overall metabolic health. Studies published in the American Journal of Physiology – Endocrinology and Metabolism show that FGF19 acts on the hypothalamus, a brain region that coordinates energy balance, prompting fat cells to burn calories as heat rather than store them. This mechanism improved weight control, reduced inflammation, and enhanced cold tolerance in obese animals.

Scientists believe this pathway could lead to new treatments for obesity and diabetes by mimicking natural hormone activity—similar to how GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide work. The benefits of FGF19 disappeared when the sympathetic nervous system was blocked, underscoring its role in thermogenesis and metabolic regulation.

FGF19 is produced in the small intestine and has known effects on bile acid regulation and glucose metabolism, but its influence on the brain is only now being explored. With obesity rates rising globally, researchers hope that stimulating this hormone—or its receptors—could offer a fresh therapeutic approach.

08-12-2025