Leptin, a hormone tied to body weight, may ease depression, a new study shows.The study included rats, not people, so it’s not yet clear if leptin has an antidepressant effect on humans. The possibility is worth exploring, the researchers write in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.Leptin is a hormone that’s mostly made by the body’s fatty tissue; it plays a role in regulating weight and appetite.The brain is studded with leptin receptors, which could be a clue about the hormones’ link to depression, write Xin-Yun Lu, PhD, and colleagues. They work in San Antonio at the University of Texas Health Science Center’s pharmacology department.
