ArticleCell metabolism2016
FGF21 Mediates Endocrine Control of Simple Sugar Intake and Sweet Taste Preference by the Liver.
Article in Cell metabolism, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 196 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
196 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 335 citations in OpenAlex.
- Liver Brain Interactions: Focus on FGF21 a Systematic Review.International journal of molecular sciences · 2022Pooled it
- KLB is associated with alcohol drinking, and its gene product β-Klotho is necessary for FGF21 regulation of alcohol preference.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2016Pooled it
- Ketogenic diet but not free-sugar restriction alters glucose tolerance, lipid metabolism, peripheral tissue phenotype, and gut microbiome: RCT.Cell reports. Medicine · 2024Trial
- Meal sugar-protein balance determines postprandial FGF21 response in humans.American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism · 2023Trial
- Glucose and lipopolysaccharide differentially regulate fibroblast growth factor 21 in healthy male human volunteers - A prospective cross-over trial.Journal of cellular and molecular medicine · 2022Trial
- Trial
- Trial
- Antibody-mediated activation of the FGFR1/Klothoβ complex corrects metabolic dysfunction and alters food preference in obese humans.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2020Trial
- The effect of hydration status on plasma FGF21 concentrations in humans: A subanalysis of a randomised crossover trial.PloS one · 2020Trial
- Skipping Breakfast Before Exercise Creates a More Negative 24-hour Energy Balance: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Healthy Physically Active Young Men.The Journal of nutrition · 2019Trial
- Dietary protein restriction reduces circulating VLDL triglyceride levels via CREBH-APOA5-dependent and -independent mechanisms.JCI insight · 2018Trial
- The Hormone FGF21 Stimulates Water Drinking in Response to Ketogenic Diet and Alcohol.Cell metabolism · 2018Trial
- Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery Has Unique Effects on Postprandial FGF21 but Not FGF19 Secretion.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2017Trial
- Hypothalamus-liver talks: whispers in the language of metabolism.Reviews in endocrine & metabolic disorders · 2026Review
- MASH-Associated T Cell Activation and Neuroinflammation: Evidence for a Hepatosystemic Immune Axis.Seminars in liver disease · 2026Review
- Hepatic FGF21 is not required for fasting metabolism but guides protein appetite post energy depletion.EMBO reports · 2026Article
- Pharmacological administration of FGF21 reverses obesity through a parabrachial-projecting neuron population in the hindbrain.Cell reports · 2026Article
- FGF21 signals through hindbrain neurons to alter food intake and energy expenditure during dietary protein restriction.Cell reports · 2026Article
- FGF family in health and disease.Molecular biomedicine · 2026Review
- Selective β3-adrenoceptor agonist reduces energy intake and elevates GDF15 levels in lean and diet-induced obese mice.Endocrine journal · 2026Article
136 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
21 authors at 7 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
Abstract
The liver is an important integrator of nutrient metabolism, yet no liver-derived factors regulating nutrient preference or carbohydrate appetite have been identified. Here we show that the liver regulates carbohydrate intake through production of the hepatokine fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), which markedly suppresses consumption of simple sugars, but not complex carbohydrates, proteins, or lipids. Genetic loss of FGF21 in mice increases sucrose consumption, whereas acute administration or overexpression of FGF21 suppresses the intake of both sugar and non-caloric sweeteners. FGF21 does not affect chorda tympani nerve responses to sweet tastants, instead reducing sweet-seeking behavior and meal size via neurons in the hypothalamus. This liver-to-brain hormonal axis likely represents a negative feedback loop as hepatic FGF21 production is elevated by sucrose ingestion. We conclude that the liver functions to regulate macronutrient-specific intake by producing an endocrine satiety signal that acts centrally to suppress the intake of "sweets."
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.