The role of ghrelin and leptin in feeding behavior: Genetic and molecular evidence
Abstract
Feeding behavior is integrated within a wide variety of eating behaviors, which depend on psychosocial, biological and environmental factors. These types of behavior can cause nutrition-related diseases such as obesity, which affects more than 650 million people worldwide. Ghrelin and leptin are key hormones that regulate appetite, food intake and energy metabolism. Research in genetics suggests that genetic variants of both hormones are associated with complex forms of eating behavior, such as a preference for palatable food, making individuals susceptible to the modern obesogenic environment. This review analyses the scientific evidence around polymorphisms in the ghrelin and leptin genes and their association with eating behavior. The understanding of these mechanisms is relevant since it could impact on the objectives of pharmacological or behavioral interventions for their treatment.
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Ghrelin is a neuroprotective hormone secreted by cells in the stomach.
“Ghrelin, a neuroprotective hormone secreted by cells in the stomach, plays a key role in regulating the appetite and energy balance of the body [20, 29, 44].”
From Protective PLCG2 variants associate with a delayed onset of Alzheimer’s disease among heterozygous APOE ε4 carriers (2026) · cites this paper as [29]
Ghrelin plays a key role in regulating appetite and energy balance.
“Ghrelin, a neuroprotective hormone secreted by cells in the stomach, plays a key role in regulating the appetite and energy balance of the body [20, 29, 44].”
From Protective PLCG2 variants associate with a delayed onset of Alzheimer’s disease among heterozygous APOE ε4 carriers (2026) · cites this paper as [29]
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Brain dopamine is associated with eating behaviors in humans
Volkow, N. D., Wang, G., Maynard, L., Jayne, M., Fowler, J. S., Zhu, W., Logan, J., Gatley, S. J., Ding, Y., Wong, C., et al. (2003) · International Journal of Eating Disorders · doi:10.1002/eat.10118 · Cited by 235 · see citing works
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Wal, A., Sahu, P. K., Wal, P., Sahu, K., Bhise, M. R., & Lodhi, D. S. (2025) · Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders-Drug Targets · doi:10.2174/011871529x326042241031060350 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Jeskanen, H., Heikkinen, S., Kervinen, I., Lehtisalo, J., Ngandu, T., Willman, R.-M., Rosa, J., Hoffmann, D., FinnGen, Leinonen, V., et al. (2026) · Alzheimer's Research & Therapy · doi:10.1186/s13195-026-01957-1 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
- Authors
- Espinoza García, A. S., Martínez Moreno, A. G., & Reyes Castillo, Z.
- Venue
- Endocrinología, Diabetes y Nutrición (English ed.)
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2021-11
- Volume
- 68
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 654-663
- ISSN
- 2530-0180 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4200431867
- Cited by
- 30
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2
- FWCI
- 0.73
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Endocrinología Diabetes y Nutrición (English ed ) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (779720)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
- Keywords
- ghrelin, leptin, feeding behavior, appetite regulation, dietary intake, energy metabolism, obesity, genetic polymorphism, obesogenic environment, diet-related diseases
- MeSH terms
- Appetite, Feeding Behavior, Humans, Obesity, Leptin, Ghrelin
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