Scientists from Umeå University found that excessive sugar consumption causes fruit flies to crave fatty foods and vice versa. Two molecules that control the sensitivity of taste buds to sweets and fats are responsible for this connection. The research was published in the journal Cell Reports.
In previous studies, scientists found that even a small increase in the amount of sugar in food triggered the flies’ gut to release a hormone called SHH into the bloodstream. It reduced the animals’ sensitivity to the taste of sugar and also reduced their cravings for sweets.
New research shows that SHH not only reduces sugar cravings but also increases fat cravings. This leads to the release of the leptin hormone known as Upd2 in flies. It suppresses the perception of the taste of fat and increases the desire for sweets. Thus, the interaction between fat and sugar intake is reciprocally regulated by signals between SHH and Upd2.
At the same time, total calorie consumption did not decrease: flies preferred either sweet or fatty foods. The same mechanism probably exists in humans. This confirms that avoiding fatty and sugary foods helps break the vicious cycle and reduces the risk of weight gain.
Previous scientists I learnedthat sweets and foods made from refined grains disrupt the metabolism.