British scientists say they are getting close to a cure for the “sweet tooth.”
Human appetite for sweet food has been blamed for obesity, diabetes and dental decay.
Researchers at Imperial College, London, UK, say the body is programmed to seek out glucose if it thinks there may be inadequate amounts for the brain.
Glucose is the main energy source used by brain cells.
The research, involving laboratory rats, centres on the enzyme glucokinase, known to sense glucose in the liver and pancreas and also found in the brain.
The researchers found that levels of the enzyme in the hypothalamus were crucial in driving appetite for sweet food.
As well as providing ideas for drugs, the researchers said the findings could provide insights into effective diets – perhaps by finding ways reduce cravings for sweetness.
Researcher Dr James Gardiner said: “Our brains rely heavily on glucose for energy. It’s clearly a very important nutrient, but in our evolutionary past it would have been hard to come by. So we have a deep-rooted preference for glucose-rich foods and seek them out.
“This is the first time anyone has discovered a system in the brain that responds to a specific nutrient, rather than energy intake in general.
“It suggests that when you’re thinking about diet, you have to think about different nutrients, not just count calories.”
Syed Hussain et al. Glucokinase activity in the arcuate nucleus regulates glucose intake. Journal of Clinical Investigation 9 December 2014.
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