Research
Hormonal
Insulin in the brain acts as an anorexigenic hormone, regulating food intake and energy expenditure through hypothalamic receptors, distinct from its peripheral anabolic effects.
Insulin in the brain helps regulate hunger. Disruptions in this central signaling (central insulin resistance) may contribute to overeating and obesity. Restoring healthy insulin signaling in the brain could theoretically support better appetite regulation.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Insulin is a powerful anabolic hormone in the periphery, and behaves as a catabolic hormone in the brain because of its anorexigenic properties.
Why this rating
Supported by experimental evidence cited in the review.
Source
Insulin in the Brain: Its Pathophysiological Implications for States Related with Central Insulin Resistance, Type 2 Diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease
Enrique Blázquez et al. · Frontiers in Endocrinology · 2014
DOI 10.3389/fendo.2014.00161
narrative_reviewCited 478×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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