Fructose sends a weaker satiety signal to the brain than glucose

MedicalXpress | juin 12, 2026

Researchers at the Monell Chemical Senses Center have found that common dietary sugars fructose and glucose, despite having the same number of calories, communicate with the brain through different gut–brain pathways, a difference that may help shape our food and beverage preferences. In mice, the team identified a dedicated gut-brain signaling pathway through which fructose communicates with the brain and found that it is much less effective than glucose in turning down the activity of hunger-related neurons.