The DOI matches its Crossref record; 66 of the 66 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
FGF21 Is a Sugar-Induced Hormone Associated with Sweet Intake and Preference in Humans
Open accessAbstract
The liking and selective ingestion of palatable foods-including sweets-is biologically controlled, and dysfunction of this regulation may promote unhealthy eating, obesity, and disease. The hepatokine fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) reduces sweet consumption in rodents and primates, whereas knockout of Fgf21 increases sugar consumption in mice. To investigate the relevance of these findings in humans, we genotyped variants in the FGF21 locus in participants from the Danish Inter99 cohort (n = 6,514) and examined their relationship with a detailed range of food and ingestive behaviors. This revealed statistically significant associations between FGF21 rs838133 and increased consumption of candy, as well as nominal associations with increased alcohol intake and daily smoking. Moreover, in a separate clinical study, plasma FGF21 levels increased acutely after oral sucrose ingestion and were elevated in fasted sweet-disliking individuals. These data suggest the liver may secrete hormones that influence eating behavior.
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In the citing paper
“These single-nucleotide polymorphisms are also associated with increases in sweet-taste preference119 and greater waist-to-hip ratios120.”
From Metabolic messengers: FGF21 (2021) · cites this paper as [119]
In the citing paper
“Although variants around the FGF21 locus are associated with changes in macronutrient intake, they are not associated with obesity or type 2 diabetes (120).”
From Fibroblast Growth Factor 21: A Versatile Regulator of Metabolic Homeostasis (2018) · cites this paper as [120]
In the citing paper
“As was observed with increased carbohydrate intake (20, 127), statistically significant associations were identified between the FGF21 rs838133 allele and increased candy consumption (120).”
From Fibroblast Growth Factor 21: A Versatile Regulator of Metabolic Homeostasis (2018) · cites this paper as [120]
In the citing paper
“FGF21 also regulates sweet taste preference in primates and humans.”
From Fibroblast Growth Factor 21: A Versatile Regulator of Metabolic Homeostasis (2018) · cites this paper as [120]
In the citing paper
“A third report also identified SNPs at the FGF21 locus associating with a preference for sweets (120).”
From Fibroblast Growth Factor 21: A Versatile Regulator of Metabolic Homeostasis (2018) · cites this paper as [120]
In the citing paper
“another nutritional intervention was shown to robustly increase FGF21: alcohol consumption. Ample evidence, in both rodents and humans, demonstrates that ethanol intake increases FGF21 production, largely by the liver”
From FGF21 and the physiological regulation of macronutrient preference (2020) · cites this paper as [166]
In the citing paper
“Additional studies have since supported this relationship between FGF21 and macronutrient intake, including associations with alcohol intake”
From FGF21 and the physiological regulation of macronutrient preference (2020) · cites this paper as [166]
In the citing paper
“FGF21 sequence variants are linked with alterations in macronutrient preference and alcohol intake in humans”
From FGF21 and the physiological regulation of macronutrient preference (2020) · cites this paper as [166]
Citations
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BackgroundFGF-21 as a novel metabolic regulator
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Items 201–216 of 216
(2024) · Frontiers research topics · doi:10.3389/978-2-8325-4473-0
Бажан, Н. М., & En, M. (2023) · Успехи физиологических наук · doi:10.31857/s0301179823040033
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“Individuals with higher FGF21 concentrations demonstrated increased dislike for sugar [41].”
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Hypothalamus-liver talks: whispers in the language of metabolism
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“Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a hepatically derived hormone whose mRNA expression in the liver and circulating levels increase after sugar ingestion, with Suc producing particularly strong induction 32 .”
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“In this study, individuals carrying the A allele of rs838133, a FGF21 SNV, showed increased preference for sweet-tasting food [111].”
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Biological functions and emerging interplay of FGF21 and GDF15 in metabolic diseases and aging
Salmón‐Gómez, L., Keipert, S., Catalán, V., Rodrı́guez, A., Becerril, S., Frühbeck, G., & Gómez‐Ambrosi, J. (2026) · Molecular Biomedicine · doi:10.1186/s43556-026-00627-w
“Human genetic studies have identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms within the FGF21 sequence that are associated with carbohydrate consumption [45, 46], particularly with increased intake of sweets and alcohol [47].”
Metadata
- Authors
- Søberg, S., Sandholt, C. H., Jespersen, N. Z., Toft, U., Madsen, A. L., von Holstein-Rathlou, S., Grevengoed, T. J., Christensen, K. B., Bredie, W. L. P., Potthoff, M. J., Solomon, T. P. J., Scheele, C., Linneberg, A., Jørgensen, T., Pedersen, O., Hansen, T., Gillum, M. P., & Grarup, N.
- Affiliations
- University of Copenhagen (DK)
- Capital Region of Denmark (DK)
- University of Iowa (US)
- University of Birmingham (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Gillum, Matthew P.
- Grarup, Niels
- ORCID
- Venue
- Cell Metabolism
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2017-05
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1045-1053.e6
- ISSN
- 1550-4131 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2611671707
- Cited by
- 216
- References
- 66
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 33 · 2020: 33 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 13
- FWCI
- 9.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Cell Metabolism (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- University of Southern Denmark Research Portal (University of Southern Denmark) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (submittedVersion)
- University of Birmingham Research Portal (University of Birmingham) (submittedVersion)
- VBN Forskningsportal (Aalborg Universitet) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- TrygFonden
- Novo Nordisk Fonden (NNF15CC0018486)
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research
- Strategiske Forskningsråd (09 – 067009, 09 – 075724)
- Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond (4092-00240B)
- Danmarks Grundforskningsfond (DNRF55)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Fibroblast Growth Factor Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques
- Keywords
- FGF21, hepatokines, sugar consumption, sweet taste preference, food liking, sucrose intake, alcohol consumption, smoking, genetic variants, dietary habits, obesity, liver hormone
- MeSH terms
- Sugars, Adult, Appetite, Appetite Regulation, Candy, Female, Fibroblast Growth Factors, Food Preferences, Genotype, Humans, Male, Obesity, Polymorphism, Genetic, Taste, Cohort Studies, Young Adult
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