Switching off hormone 'may cure drinking problems'

Recent reports have revealed how excessive drinking is continuing to elevate cancer incidence and lead to premature death, and a factor in this is alcoholism.

Now, however, experts believe they have discovered a hormone which could have an impact on reducing dependency on the substance or even curing sufferers completely.

A study conducted at the Faculty of 1000 institute at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden has revealed that a stomach-produced hormone that affects the desire to eat and consume alcohol could be switched off to control drinking problems.

Experts at the facility told health cover holders that ghrelin, which is normally released by the stomach and known to promote appetite and the intake of food, also influences the consumption of alcohol.

Faculty of 1000 biology reviewer Kent Berridge of the University of Michigan, wrote in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA that mice injected with ghrelin and then given the choice of alcohol or water to drink, were more likely to choose alcohol.

Meanwhile, mice treated with a ghrelin antagonist, as well as mice with the hormone's receptor removed, which are commonly known as "knockout mice", proved resistant to the effects of alcohol.

Therefore, switching off the hormone may be the key to lowering alcohol dependency and helping to save lives and healthcare resources in the long term, Professor Berridge said.

The specialist wrote: "These results seem to suggest a role for the effects of ghrelin on the brain in the motivation for alcohol consumption."

Posted by Stephen Tate

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