The Hormone Hypocretin And Its Many Functions

The hormone hypocretin (or orexin) is an excitatory neuropeptide hormone. More specifically, it is a polypeptide hormone found in the posterior hypothalamus. It has many features. It makes you feel hungry. It makes you feel awake. Furthermore, and among other things, it makes you feel cheerful. On the other hand, high levels are also associated with sleep disorders such as insomnia or narcolepsy.

You can increase the presence of this hormone by using certain diets related to diet and lifestyle. For example, you can stimulate excretion by sunbathing, exercising, eating dairy products, limiting glucose intake and increasing fructose intake.

What is the hormone hypocretin?

Hypocretin, also known as orexin, is a type of excitatory neuropeptide hormone according to Sakurai et al (1998) and De Lecea et al (1998). These two researchers were the first to discover this hormone in the brains of rats. The name hypocretin comes from the English language and the term was first used in 1998.

Hypocretin is a neural hormone of polypeptide. It consists of 30 amino acids and is found in the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is the part of the brain that is involved in physical functions such as appetite, libido and sleep regulation.

Functions of the hormone hypocretin

Researchers initially thought that hypocretin was involved in stimulating food intake (hunger). They believed this because the central administration of this hormone, specifically orexin-A / hypocretin-1, was found to increase food intake.

They later discovered that hypocretin also stimulated insomnia, energy expenditure and wakefulness. In fact, this hormone has several different functions.

Vigilance

Hypocretin, or orexin, promotes alertness. Recent studies suggest that one of the functions is to integrate metabolic effects of circadian rhythm and lack of sleep. In other words, hypocretin plays an important role in whether an animal should be awake and active or asleep.

Thus, it strongly excites the various nuclei in the brain that play important roles in the occurrence of insomnia (dopamine, acetylcholine and norepinephrine systems). However, Lin et al (1999) suggest that the orexin / hypocretin receptor may also mutate and cause sleep problems in dogs, such as narcolepsy.

Food intake

Hypocretin stimulates and increases your food cravings. When it works in this way, it also interacts with substances that promote its production. This means that it is able to increase its impact.

However, some animal experiments show that low levels of orexin cause obesity. In fact, obesity occurs even when they eat fewer calories.

A possible link to Alzheimer’s disease

Kang et al (2009) linked hypocretin to Alzheimer’s disease. Their study claimed that the secretion of beta-amyloid protein, a peptide commonly seen in Alzheimer’s disease, increases during the day and decreases at night. Kang et al (2009) further claimed that hypocretin controls this secretion of the beta-amyloid protein.

Lack of sleep causes the development of beta-amyloid plaques. Kang et al (2009) argued that maintaining adequate periods of sleep or wakefulness prevents Alzheimer’s disease.

Influence on good mood

Hypocretin has a role in emotional and physiological functions. In fact, high levels of hypocretin are associated with a positive mood and happiness.

Anxiety and addiction

It is believed that low hypocretin levels affect the urge to smoke and drink alcohol. This seems especially relevant in cases of addiction. In addition, we associate the presence of hypocretin with reward systems. Furthermore, abnormally high levels of hypocretin lead to states of anxiety. Thus, this can mean that an addict can have a relapse.

How to stimulate the hormone hypocretin

You can increase the presence of hypocretin in your body by doing certain things. These include:

• Soling. Hypocretin increases in bright light, such as sunlight.
• Training. Exercise acidifies the blood. This increases the excitability of hypocretin.

• Eat foods that contain lactate. Lactate regulates hypocretin and increases your energy.
• Limit glucose intake and increase fructose intake. Elevated blood sugar levels prevent orexin neurons from being active.

In the case of the latter, pasta, wholemeal bread, potatoes and legumes contain healthy glucose (slow carbohydrates). In contrast, white bread, salty snacks and fried foods contain unhealthy glucose (fast carbohydrates).

As you can see, hypocretin is a hormone that works in many ways, both physiologically and psychologically. Because of the link to positive emotions, we actually call it “the good mood hormone”. Furthermore, it regulates emotions, moods and sleep / wake cycles. It is also related to learning processes.

Finally, experts link altered hypocretin levels to sleep disorders, obesity and even Alzheimer’s disease.