Energy Balance Regulators are a collective group of central and peripheral signaling molecules, primarily hormones and neuropeptides, that govern the homeostatic relationship between caloric intake and energy expenditure within the human body. These regulators exert control over fundamental physiological processes including appetite, satiety, thermogenesis, and the allocation of metabolic substrates. Precise regulation is essential for maintaining a healthy body composition and ensuring adequate energy supply for all endocrine functions.
Origin
This concept originates from metabolic endocrinology, focusing on the complex neuro-hormonal axes that manage energy homeostasis, such as the gut-brain axis and the adipose tissue-hypothalamus loop. Key discoveries involving hormones like leptin, ghrelin, and insulin have solidified the understanding of this regulatory network.
Mechanism
The mechanism involves the integration of signals in the hypothalamus, particularly the arcuate nucleus, where neuropeptides like NPY and POMC modulate feeding behavior. Peripheral hormones, secreted by the gut and adipose tissue, communicate the body’s energy status to the brain, triggering adaptive changes in energy intake and basal metabolic rate. Dysregulation of these signaling pathways is a primary driver of metabolic syndrome and hormonal imbalances.
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