This weight-loss hormone may protect the liver even without weight loss
A study from McMaster University reveals that the hormone GDF15 can reduce liver inflammation and fibrosis independently of weight loss. This discovery suggests that GDF15 acts through a brain-to-liver signaling pathway, offering a new potential target for treating fatty liver disease.
Why it matters
This finding could lead to new therapeutic strategies for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) that address inflammation even when weight loss is not achieved.
Researchers at McMaster University have uncovered an unexpected role for a naturally occurring hormone already known for reducing appetite and supporting weight loss. The hormone appears to protect the liver from inflammation through a previously unknown signaling pathway, a finding that could point toward new approaches for treating advanced fatty liver disease.
The study, published in Cell Metabolism on August 10, 2026, found that GDF15 can reduce liver inflammation and slow the development of liver scarring even when weight loss does not occur. The result challenges the long-held view that the hormone's benefits are primarily tied to its effects on appetite and body weight.
A New Target for Advanced Fatty Liver Disease
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