How Does the Brain Controls Vitamin Balance in the Body?

Press/Media: Relating to Research

Description

The hypothalamus, involved in regulating body systems, including temperature and appetite, is found to influence vitamin levels. Vitamin A's significance for various functions makes understanding its balance vital; hypothalamus health could impact vitamin-related diseases and overall health.

Period10 Aug 2023

Media coverage

1

Media coverage

  • TitleHow Does the Brain Controls Vitamin Balance in the Body?
    Degree of recognitionInternational
    Media name/outletTechnology Networks
    Media typeWeb
    Duration/Length/SizeRead time: 4 minutes
    Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
    Date10/08/23
    DescriptionVitamin A is a micronutrient essential for vertebrate animals maintained in homeostatic balance in the body; however, little is known about the control of this balance. This study investigated whether the hypothalamus, a key integrative brain region, regulates vitamin A levels in the liver and circulation. Vitamin A in the form of retinol or retinoic acid was stereotactically injected into the 3rd ventricle of the rat brain. Alternatively, retinoids in the mouse hypothalamus were altered through retinol-binding protein 4 (Rbp4) gene knockdown. This led to rapid change in the liver proteins controlling vitamin A homeostasis as well as vitamin A itself in liver and the circulation. Prolonged disruption of Rbp4 in the region of the arcuate nucleus of the mouse hypothalamus altered retinol levels in the liver. This supports the concept that the brain may sense retinoids and influence whole-body vitamin A homeostasis with a possible “vitaminostatic” role.
    URLhttps://www.technologynetworks.com/proteomics/news/how-does-the-brain-controls-vitamin-balance-in-the-body-377581
    PersonsPeter Imoesi