In this engaging discussion, Chris Morrison, a professor and researcher at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, unpacks the intricate connections between protein restriction and metabolism. He reveals how animals prioritize nutrients, the fascinating role of the liver hormone FGF21 in signaling protein deprivation, and the balancing act between protein intake and longevity. Listeners will learn about the body's defenses against nutrient deprivation and the surprising impacts on behavior and appetite—offering insights that could reshape our understanding of dietary choices.
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insights INSIGHT
Adequacy Depends On Your Goal
Adequacy of nutrition depends on the endpoint you care about, like growth, reproduction, or lifespan.
Biology trades off competing goals so 'enough' varies by outcome and context.
insights INSIGHT
A Hierarchy Of Nutrient Defense
The body defends nutrients hierarchically: water/sodium most strongly, then energy, then protein, with weaker defenses for carbs and fats.
This hierarchy explains strong salt appetite and milder drives for carbs or fats.
insights INSIGHT
Protein Drives Overeating And Thermogenesis
Low-protein diets make mice hyperphagic: they eat more total calories to reach a protein target.
Mice also raise energy expenditure under low protein, sometimes preventing weight gain.
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The effects of protein restriction on metabolism, liver hormones, brain, and behavior.
Episode Summary: Dr. Christopher Morrison talks about how animals sense and prioritize nutrients like protein, discussing defense mechanisms for essentials such as oxygen, water, sodium, and energy; the brain's role in detecting protein deprivation via signals like FGF21; trade-offs between growth, reproduction, and longevity under protein restriction; and reconciling high-protein diets for satiety and muscle maintenance with low-protein benefits for metabolic health and lifespan extension.
About the guest: Christopher Morrison, PhD is a professor and researcher at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he has worked for over 22 years focusing on nutrition, metabolism, and chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes.
Discussion Points:
The body prioritizes nutrients hierarchically: oxygen and water first, then sodium, energy, and protein, with weaker defenses for carbs or fats.
Animals develop specific appetites for deprived nutrients, like salt or protein, often through post-ingestive learning rather than just taste.
Protein restriction (e.g., 5% vs. 20% in diets) increases food intake and energy expenditure in mice to maintain protein levels, even at the cost of extra calories.
FGF21, a liver hormone, signals protein deprivation to the brain (via NTS region), driving protein-seeking behavior and metabolic changes; it's essential for low-protein responses.
Protein restriction extends lifespan in lab animals by suppressing growth signals like IGF-1 and mTOR, but may impair immunity or wound healing in real-world conditions.
High protein aids satiety, weight loss, and muscle building, but overconsumption may shorten lifespan; optimal intake depends on age, activity, and goals (e.g., not for pregnant or elderly).
No one-size-fits-all for protein: mild restriction may benefit middle-aged sedentary people for health, while athletes need more; balance avoids excesses.
Related content:
M&M 106: Diet, Macronutrients, Micronutrients, Taste, Whole vs. Processed Food, Obesity & Weight Loss, Comparative Biology of Feeding Behavior | Stephen Simpson & David Raubenheimer
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