How bones affect appetite and metabolism

Human skeleton is more than the structure supporting the muscles and other tissues, it produces osteocalcin hormone. The hormone affects how we metabolize sugar and fat. It increases insulin production which reduces blood glucose levels, it can also protects us from obesity by increasing the use of energy.

Changes in blood concentrations of osteocalcin may stave off the development of diabetes. Osteocalcin is produced by osteoblasts, the cells responsible for making human bones. The hormone builds up in bone, and then, through a series of chemical reactions, is released into the blood.

Inactive osteocalcin has one more piece than active osteocalcin. The researchers examined in mice the different enzymes present in cells where osteocalcin was produced. Furin causes osteocalcin to become active and the hormone is then released into the blood.

When there was no furin in bone cells, inactive osteocalcin built up and was still released, but this led to an increase in blood glucose levels and a reduction in energy expenditure and insulin production. The absence of furin reduced the mice's appetite, osteocalcin has no effect on appetite, the existence of a new bone hormone that controls food intake.
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