Dr Henning Fensenlau

There's a switch that activates specific neurons in the brain that then ultimately make us guide towards eating more high sugar containing foods.

What we found in mice is that once we are in a state of satiety, so when we have enough food, that there's a switch that activates this specific neurons in the brain that then ultimately make us guide towards eating more high sugar containing foods.

that the consumption of sugar is very pleasant. And so that should then ultimately still be consumed, even though there is, in general, the fullness sensation.

Exactly. So that is also being produced in the brain. And there is one specific endorphin or opiate, which is better endorphins. And there's actually only one cell type in the brain that produces beta-endorphin, which are POMC cells. And so these POMC cells are really widely known for being the brain regulator for satiety. But they do so with a very different molecule, which is called FMSH.

It's a very well-known molecule. signaling mechanism but they produce also better endorphin it was a long-standing question why do they have this and we think that we with our investigation provide a new idea how and why they have this to drive this over consumption of high sugar containing foods And why do you think this mechanism exists?

We consider this something that is evolutionarily there because in the wild, sugar is extremely rare, right? I mean, there are only few sources where sugar in its pure source can be found.

And so whenever an animal can find sugar, it should consume it because even though you have a sufficient amount of energy stored in the body, you can consume the sugar to use it to have more energy for later time points.

It seems so, yeah. A lot of data strongly suggests that it's only sugar that this mechanism drives.

There is a way to block it or to inhibit it because you can block the opiate receptor. And we think or suggest there could actually be a way how to maybe complement early available strategies or come up with new strategies to treat patients that overconsume and may have a higher body weight.