Leptin News and Research

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Leptin is a 16 kDa protein hormone that plays a key role in regulating energy intake and energy expenditure, including appetite and metabolism. It is one of the most important adipose derived hormones. The ''Ob(Lep)'' gene (Ob for obese, Lep for leptin) is located on chromosome 7 in humans.

Evening chronotype links later eating with higher body fat

Research shows evening chronotypes in women consume more energy later, leading to higher body fat and metabolic issues, highlighting chrono-nutrition's role.

16 Jul 2026

Gut microbiota may shape eating behavior and guide new obesity treatments

The review shows how gut microbiota may influence appetite, food reward, inflammation, and energy balance through the gut-brain axis. Microbiota-targeted approaches could support future treatments for obesity and eating disorders, but clinical evidence remains limited.

12 Jul 2026

UCD professor wins ERC grant for pediatric growth disorder research

Professor Niamh Nowlan of University College Dublin (UCD) has been awarded a European Research Council (ERC) Proof of Concept Grant for research with the potential to enable new treatments for a broad range of paediatric growth disorders.

30 Jun 2026

Optimized proximity labeling platform tracks cellular protein communication networks

The body's organs are in constant communication. Fat tissue tells the liver when to store or release energy, the immune system signals localized inflammation, and thousands of proteins carry these messages to organs throughout the body.

22 Jun 2026

Indian adapted Mediterranean diet targets inflammation in heart disease trial

The paper describes a single-center randomized controlled trial testing whether an Indian Adapted Mediterranean Diet can reduce dietary inflammation in adults with stable coronary artery disease or moderate-to-high cardiovascular risk. The protocol will assess changes in the Dietary Inflammatory Index, inflammatory biomarkers, cardiometabolic risk factors, body measurements, and metabolic hormones over six months.

25 May 2026

Chia seeds may boost fetal brain DHA during obesity-linked pregnancy

Chia seed supplementation during pregnancy increased maternal omega-3 long-chain fatty acids, including DHA, in a rat model of high-fat-high-sugar diet-induced obesity. The findings suggest plant-derived ALA from chia seeds may improve maternal, placental, and mid-gestation fetal brain lipid profiles, but human relevance and offspring outcomes still need testing.

17 May 2026

Study links metabolic dysfunction to cognitive impairment in bipolar disorder

While they share similar depressive and cognitive symptoms, the biological underpinnings of bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder are distinct.

11 May 2026

Scientists identify specialized cells that trigger bone marrow cavity growth

Bone marrow is the spongy tissue located within the hollow center of bones, serving as the primary site for the continuous production of red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells.

28 Apr 2026

Tiny device with engineered cells acts as internal drug factory

A multi-institutional team of scientists, co-led by Northwestern University, has taken a crucial step toward implantable "living pharmacies" - tiny devices containing engineered cells that continuously produce medicines inside the body.

27 Mar 2026

Weekend lie-ins may boost insulin sensitivity, but too much may backfire

This study explores the relationship between sleep patterns and insulin sensitivity, emphasizing the impact of weekday sleep and weekend catch-up on metabolism.

6 Mar 2026

Why we keep craving food even when we are full

Research shows food cues activate brain reward signals, leading to eating without hunger, shedding light on obesity and appetite regulation mechanisms.

4 Mar 2026

Puberty reshapes DNA to worsen or reverse insulin resistance

This study uncovers epigenetic changes during puberty that correlate with insulin resistance, offering insights into childhood obesity and metabolic risk.

3 Mar 2026

Experts identify safest and most effective diets for IBS management

This review in Nutrients evaluates the scientific evidence, clinical effectiveness, and safety of major dietary strategies for irritable bowel syndrome, including traditional advice, low-FODMAP, gluten-free, Mediterranean, and starch- and sucrose-reduced diets. It concludes that while the low-FODMAP diet has the strongest short-term evidence, no single approach fits all patients, and dietitian-led personalization is essential.

2 Mar 2026

New review explores whether berries can slow cognitive decline linked to obesity

This systematic review in Nutrients evaluates human studies investigating whether polyphenol-rich berry consumption can modulate obesity-related metabolic dysfunction and support cognitive performance, particularly in individuals at risk of mild cognitive impairment. Evidence suggests modest memory benefits and possible metabolic improvements, although biomarker findings and long-term clinical relevance remain uncertain.

22 Feb 2026

Time-restricted feeding reduces disease activity and inflammation in Crohn's patients

A new randomized controlled study funded by the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation found that time-restricted feeding-a form of intermittent fasting-significantly reduced symptomatic disease activity and systematic inflammation in adults with Crohn's disease and overweight or obesity.

9 Feb 2026

Blood biomarkers predict risk of multimorbidity in older adults

A small set of common blood biomarkers predicts which older adults will develop specific combinations of chronic diseases - and how quickly, a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in Nature Medicine reports.

7 Jan 2026

Common blood signals explain why chronic diseases cluster as we age

This population-based study shows that shared and pattern-specific blood biomarkers reflect biological vulnerability underlying multimorbidity and the pace at which chronic diseases accumulate in older adults. Metabolic and systemic stress markers such as GDF15, HbA1c, cystatin C, and insulin consistently tracked higher disease burden and faster accumulation, with findings replicated across cohorts.

5 Jan 2026

What happens to your body during an ultramarathon? New study reveals key metabolic changes

This study tracked ultramarathon runners across 100 km, 160.9 km, and 230 km events to examine real-world metabolic, hormonal, and muscle stress responses. Severe energy deficits, muscle damage, and heterogeneous hormonal shifts were observed, with the greatest strain seen in the 230 km distance.

10 Dec 2025

Red meat raises inflammation marker CRP in clinical trials

The review analyzes red meat's effects on inflammatory biomarkers, revealing significant associations with CRP in specific adult subgroups and dietary contexts.

17 Nov 2025

Understanding leptin's dual function in MAFLD pathogenesis

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has emerged as a predominant chronic liver condition globally, intricately linked with obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and metabolic syndrome.

14 Nov 2025