What is Leptin Hormone? What is it for?
What is the leptin hormone?
The leptin hormone is produced by fat cells. Leptin is also produced in the bone marrow, skeletal muscles, gastric mucosa, breast, skin cells and some parts of the brain. Leptin signals to the hypothalamus that fat stores are sufficient and that the person can eat less or stop eating.
While a high leptin level tells the brain that you have stored enough fat, a low leptin level tells the brain that fat stores are low and food is needed. For this reason, Leptin is also known as the "satiety hormone". The main function of leptin is to signal to the brain that it no longer needs to eat and can burn calories at a normal rate.
Leptin levels are low in the morning, which triggers the desire to eat. It reaches a high threshold in the evening. The lowest level is seen at noon. The highest leptin level is usually noticed after midnight.
How does the leptin hormone work?
Leptin is a metabolic hormone and occurs mostly in fat cells. When fat cells secrete leptin, it is carried to the brain through the blood. This protein, also known as the satiety hormone, is closely linked to its function in regulating the body's fat stores. The balance of the hormones leptin and ghrelin is critical for normal appetite functioning.
Ghrelin is the hunger hormone and is produced mostly in the stomach. Smaller amounts are also secreted by the brain, small intestine and pancreas. It stimulates appetite and signals to the brain that it is time to eat. It not only makes you want to eat more, but also promotes fat storage. The balance between ghrelin and leptin is important for maintaining a healthy body weight. These hormones work together to ensure adequate amounts of food are eaten.
Ghrelin increases appetite and leptin makes you feel full. These two hormones are opposites and must be in balance. When the balance of these hormones is disrupted, the person may not feel hungry or may still have an appetite even though he is full. It can lead to significant weight gain or loss and is also linked to eating and mood disorders.
What does the leptin hormone do?
Leptin is a satiety hormone. It is mainly produced by fat cells, and when the body stores the energy obtained from food, the leptin hormone sends a signal to the brain that it is full. The leptin hormone plays an important role in controlling appetite. It helps regulate body weight and metabolism. Leptin is also a hormone involved in muscle activity, the immune system, reproduction and growth.
It helps the development of the placenta and the growth of the baby during pregnancy. Research shows that the leptin hormone has an important place in eating disorders related to metabolism and weight gain problems.
