Pippa, a 12 -week labrador puppy, was quietly nibbling a stick when a word changed everything: “cookie”. In an instant, the ears have dried up, the eyes have fixed himself on his human and his whole body has come to attention. If you have a labrador, this scene will play you familiar.
But why do these dogs always seem to be hungry? It is not just a matter of habit or education: the voracity of the labradors is written in their genes. And it is the same reason why this breed is particularly predisposed to obesity. Now, a study of theCambridge University He revealed something surprising: Labrador They share some genes related to appetite and body weight with human beings.
The study: genetics and obesity, a link between dogs and humans
The researchers analyzed the DNA of 250 Domestic Labradorsmeasuring their percentage of body fat and evaluating their food behavior. They found that dogs with a High genetic risk of obesity not only they eat morebut they are also more insistent in asking for food and more inclined to rummage in search of leftovers.
The most involved gene is Dennd1bclosely linked to the accumulation of fat in the labradors. Dogs that present a particular variant of this gene have on average 8% more fat mass compared to those without the mutation. But there is more: by examining human genetic databases, researchers found it same gene in people predisposed to obesity.
This because Dennd1b acts inside the Leptina-Melanocortina circuita brain system that regulates hunger and energy consumption. There leptina hormone produced by fat cells, reports to the brain when the body has accumulated enough energy and should stop eating. If this system is altered, the satiety signal weakens and hunger increases.
But Dennd1b is not the only responsible: the study identified Four other genes which contribute to obesity in dogs, even if with a minor impact.
It is not the first time that researchers connect the genetics of Labradors to their insatiable hunger. In a previous study, the Dr. Eleanor Raffan He had discovered that these dogs have a mutation of the gene Pomcwhich affects the regulation of appetite and metabolism.
This mutation is a legacy of St. John’s Water Dogsan ancient Canadian breed now extinct. These dogs were used to living in extreme climatic conditions and had to accumulate fatty reserves To survive. Over time, this genetic feature has been preserved in the Labradors, making them more inclined to eat more and more burning less calories.
Labrador and Humans: a similar destiny when food abounds
The similarities between human and canine obesity are impressive: Between 40 and 60% of domestic dogs It is overweight or obese, just as it happens for humans.
In nature, mammals have evolved by store fat as an energy reserve in periods of scarcity. But in the modern world, in which food is always available, this ability has turned into a problem.
The good news? Also the Labradors with High genetic risk of obesity they can maintain a healthy weight, as long as their owners strictly controlling their diet and guarantee adequate exercise. And the same applies to humans: who has a genetic predisposition to obesity it is not intended to gain weightbut must pay more attention to the diet and lifestyle than those with a faster metabolism.
Beyond the calories: the importance of metabolism and microbiota
Think that weight control is reduced to “Calories in, calories out” It’s a mistake. The type of nutrition plays a fundamental role: Non -trial foodsrich in fiber and polyphenols, favor greater elimination of calories than ultra-procepsed industrial foods, which are more easily absorbed by the body.
Another key factor is the metabolism, which depends on the efficiency of mitochondriathe energy plants of the cells. In healthy subjects, mitochondria work well, burning calories to produce energy. In those who have metabolic problems, however, the mitochondria are less efficient, leading to a greater accumulation of fat and an increase in appetite.
Finally, the intestinal microbiota plays a crucial role: some bacteria produce substances that stimulate brown fata type of adipose tissue that helps to burn energy. But not everyone has an intestinal flora capable of promoting these processes.
Comparing the DNA of Pippa and others 250 Labrador With that of human beings, scientists discovered that Dennd1b also plays a role in human obesityalthough with less marked effects. This discovery overturn the concept of willpower: it is not a question of being lazy or greedy, but of having a brain that responds differently to the availability of food, as explained by Dr. Raffan:
Our research shows that the owners of Magri Labrador are not better than those with overweight dogs, just as thin people are not morally superior. Those who have a high genetic risk of obesity must commit much more to not fat.
This discovery could bring to the development of new drugs for the control of appetite. Ozempic and other similar drugs already act on these mechanisms, and better understand the role of Dennd1b It could open the way for more effective treatments for both humans and dogs.
