According to a study recently published in the journal Cell Metabolism, a hormone named fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) has been found to protect mice against the disruption of balance and righting reflex caused by ethanol. “We’ve discovered that the liver is not only involved in metabolizing
A hormone called fibroblast growth factor 21 helps protect mice against the harmful effects of alcohol-induced loss of balance and consciousness by activating a specific part of the brain controlling alertness. However, further research is needed to determine if FGF21’s anti-intoxicant activity is applicable to humans and how it affects other cognitive and emotional functions.
FGF21 is a hormone that is induced in the liver by a variety of metabolic stresses, including starvation, protein deficiency, simple sugars, and ethanol. In humans, ethanol is by far the most potent inducer of FGF21 described to date. Previous studies showed that FGF21 suppresses ethanol preference, induces water drinking to prevent dehydration, and protects against alcohol-induced liver injury.
Surprisingly, FGF21 did not counteract sedation caused by ketamine, diazepam, or pentobarbital, indicating specificity for ethanol. FGF21 mediated its anti-intoxicant effects by directly activating noradrenergic neurons in the locus coeruleus region in the brain, which regulates arousal and alertness. Taken together, the results suggest that the FGF21 liver-brain pathway evolved to protect against ethanol-induced intoxication.
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