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Satiety hormone has been linked to the risk of a number of diseases
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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Scientists from Lund University have discovered that the level of neurotensin in the blood can provoke the development of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and the development of breast cancer.
Neurotensin is a peptide that is expressed in the gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system.
Swedish scientists conducted a study that was aimed at identifying the connection between the level of neurotensin concentration and the risk of diabetes, breast cancer and cardiovascular diseases, as well as the threat of premature death associated with this.
The results of the specialists’ research are presented on the pages of the American Medical Association journal.
"It is surprising that we found such a clear link with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as breast cancer. Obesity is a common risk factor for all three diseases, but the link with neurotensin does not explain obesity or other known risk factors," says Professor Olle Melander from the Department of Clinical Sciences at Lund University.
"Neurotensin enters the bloodstream after eating, especially after eating foods rich in fat. It is involved in the digestion of food, controls the speed at which food passes through the intestines, pain sensations, and body temperature," the researchers say.
It was also found that neurotensin is directly involved in appetite regulation and controls the body's satiety. Some studies have shown that people with excess body weight have a disrupted process of releasing neurotensin.
According to scientists, an increase in neurotensin levels several years before the onset of the disease can be perceived as a marker that characterizes the degree of a person's predisposition to the disease. Researchers emphasize that the relationship between neurotensin and mortality due to the development of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and breast cancer is observed exclusively in women.
Scientists hope that these relationships can be identified through genetic studies that are currently being carried out.
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