Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health Stress Alters Metabolic Hormone with Health Consequences, Study Shows
Dec 13, 2025
Research reveals an intriguing link between psychological stress and a key metabolic hormone. Healthy mitochondria respond by dropping this hormone, while those with dysfunction see an increase. Chronic stress can exacerbate insulin resistance and disrupt energy balance. Loneliness also plays a role, raising stress-related hormones. Restoring mitochondrial health through proper nutrition, movement, and connection can mitigate these issues. Practical strategies like adjusting carbs, improving sleep, and reducing processed foods are offered to enhance resilience and overall well-being.
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Stress Directly Reprograms Energy Signaling
- Psychological stress directly shifts the metabolic hormone FGF21, linking emotions to cellular energy allocation.
- Mitochondrial capacity determines whether stress lowers or raises this hormone, altering metabolic outcomes.
Opposite Hormone Responses Reveal Vulnerability
- In healthy adults FGF21 fell ~20% after a mental stressor and normalized within 90 minutes.
- In people with mitochondrial disease FGF21 rose ~32% and peaked at 90 minutes, showing opposite stress responses.
FGF21 As A Metabolic Messenger
- Researchers framed FGF21 as a messenger translating brain stress signals into tissue-level energy decisions.
- This adds a measurable pathway by which chronic stress can accelerate metabolic disease and biological aging.