Mitochondrial Protein Maintains Appetite During Fasting

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have found that a thyroid hormone in the brain is linked to the “uncoupling” protein UCP2, which can maintain appetite during periods of fasting so that the body is ready to eat when food is reintroduced. Published in the January issue of Cell Metabolism, the study was conducted by observing the behavior of mice that fasted for 24 hours. The researchers, led by Sabrina Diano, associate professor in the Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences and Neurobiology, found that during fasting there was an increase in UCP2 as well as an increase in the type 2-deiodinase enzyme that stimulates thyroid hormone production in the hypothalamus.