Leptin is a protein that is mainly formed in the adipose tissue of the body. It can also be excreted in the liver, placenta, and gastric mucosa. Once released, it passes into the bloodstream and acts as a signal to the brain.

This is a hormone that is directly involved in the control of satiety, ie. it plays a very important role in weight control. For this reason, leptin supplements have become very popular in recent years: it is claimed that they can reduce appetite and facilitate weight loss. However, the effect of supplementation with the hormone is controversial.

Find out everything you need to know about leptin, what it is, how it works, and if it is true that it can help you lose weight.

The hormone was discovered in 1994 and has since been studied for its role in regulating weight and obesity in both animals and humans.

Leptin is a hormone produced by fat cells and is primarily related to food intake. After eating, she has the responsibility to warn the brain that you are already satisfied and therefore you lose your appetite. Similarly, when you eat heavily, your blood levels of leptin remain elevated for longer periods.

That is, this hormone tells the brain that you have enough fat, which reduces your appetite, signals the body to burn calories, and prevents you from eating too much. In contrast, when levels are low, your brain senses hunger increases your appetite, and burns calories at a slower rate. That is why it is often called the hunger hormone.

It is important to emphasize that all bodies are different and therefore the reactions to the hormone in each person are different. For example, people with obesity, despite having high levels of leptin, the brain does not recognize the signals that the hormone sends it. This is known as leptin resistance.

This means that even if you have more than enough of the hormone available, your brain does not recognize it and thinks you are still hungry. As a result, you keep eating. Plus, not only do you eat more, but it also signals to your brain that you need to conserve energy, causing you to burn calories at a slower rate.

During weight loss, more leptin is not significantly what matters. What matters is how well your brain performs the hormone signals. In other words, due to resistance to leptin, more leptin is not proportional to weight loss as this only depends on each body. Therefore, taking a supplement that increases leptin levels does not necessarily lead to weight loss.

Most leptin supplements do not contain the hormone, but rather a mixture of different nutrients that are marketed to reduce inflammation and therefore increase sensitivity to leptin. Some include ingredients like alpha-lipoic acid and fish oil, while others contain green tea extract and soluble fiber.

Although studies on leptin supplementation are inconceivable and more research is needed, some natural suggestions can help improve leptin resistance, increase sensitivity, and promote weight loss without having to take a supplement.

Author's Bio: 

Explains what the leptin hormone is, how it affects weight, and whether leptin supplements are safe or effective.