Monell Center researchers find fructose sends a weaker “I’m full” signal to the brain than glucose

Researchers at the Monell Chemical Senses Center found that common dietary sugars fructose and glucose, despite having the same amount of calories, communicate with the brain through different gut-brain pathways, a difference that may help shape our food and beverage preferences. In mice, the team identified a dedicated gut-brain signaling pathway through which fructose communicates with the brain and found that it is much less effective than glucose in turning down the activity of hunger-related neurons. Their findings were published June 10 in Neuron. “This work adds to our growing understanding of how modern diets, especially those high in fructose...