Hormonal
Dietary interventions that induce weight loss decrease circulating FGF-21 levels, with the magnitude of decrease being inversely proportional to carbohydrate content (very low carbohydrate diets causing the greatest reduction).
If you are maintaining weight loss, your body's FGF-21 levels will drop, which is a good sign of improved metabolic sensitivity. Eating fewer carbohydrates (Very Low Carb) causes a larger drop in FGF-21 than Low Fat or Low Glycemic Index diets. This suggests that reducing carbs may help resolve 'FGF-21 resistance' associated with obesity, potentially improving liver health.
FGF-21 decreased (P < 0.0001), with differential effect by macronutrient composition (mean change from baseline ± SEM: LF −49.4 ± 16.6, LGI -58.6 ± 16.3, VLC -76.7 ± 18.2 pg/mL, P = 0.0002).
Why this rating
Randomized crossover design with controlled feeding, though sample size is small (N=21).
Source
Hepatic, adipocyte, enteric and pancreatic hormones: response to dietary macronutrient composition and relationship with metabolism
Bridget M. Hron et al. · Nutrition & Metabolism · 2017
DOI 10.1186/s12986-017-0198-y
More from this paper
- Decreases in FGF-21 levels during weight loss maintenance are associated with improvements in hepatic insulin sensitivity, suggesting a resolution of FGF-21 resistance.Good
- Dietary intervention (weight loss maintenance) increases fasting ghrelin levels and decreases chemerin levels, independent of macronutrient composition.Good
- Dietary intervention (weight loss maintenance) increases circulating Heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1) levels, with a non-significant trend toward greater increases on Low Glycemic Index diets.Moderate
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