#hormone

A new study clarifies how a mysterious hormone, GDF15, makes insulin work better in rodents. As reported in Cell Metabolism, the researchers were the first to discover that the hormone GDF15 actually improves sensitivity in mice and rats, making them better suited to regulate their blood sugar and absorb energy in their muscles. The findings increase our general understanding of GDF15 and suggest potential benefits for diabetes and overweight. “Increased insulin sensitivity is an important indicator of health and critical for avoiding type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular diseases. That we are now able to demonstrate a beneficial effect of GDF15 in rodents raises interesting perspectives,” says senior author Erik Richter, a professor at the University of Copenhagen.