Leptin, from the Greek word leptos, which means thin, is a hormone known as OB protein or hunger hormone; which is produced by the cells that form adipose tissue, adipocytes, or fat cells, found in the ovary, the hypothalamus and the placenta during pregnancy. The most important performance of this hormone is the regulation of energy intake and expenditure that we have from the body; determining good health and a life expectancy, working in conjunction with insulin. Structurally, it has about 167 amino acids, being three-dimensional as it has four alpha helices, which are necessary for the biological hormonal activity of the human organism.
It is a watchdog controlling the body's fat metabolism, it monitors the energy consumed and maintains an energy balance in and out, regulating hunger and satiety, it is in charge of counteracting the effects of other hormones, such as those secreted. in the hypothalamus and in the intestines. Controls appetite-stimulating hormones. It has the function of increasing the hormone a-MSH, which is the stimulant of appetite suppression, being an important helper of metabolism, regulating it and helping you control weight.
In recent studies it has been shown that this hormone is key to maintaining weight, in very long fasts the level of leptin falls, and if its functioning is poor, the level of leptin in the body decreases and hunger and appetite increase, it decreases the energy expenditure and there is less satiety, thus producing the metabolic syndrome, and is related to obesity and diabetes. Strict low-calorie diets, excessive and uncontrolled weight loss, and stress increase cortisol and reduce this hormone, throwing the body out of control and suffering from sudden hunger attacks, such as the anxiety to eat out of hours.
