An endocrine hormone.

• Position: HEALTH BEAT - Fibroblast growth factor 21 - Brief article

An endocrine hormone used in clinical trials as an anti-obesity and -diabetes drug could cause rapid bone loss, research published the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has shown. The hormone, fibroblast growth factor 21 promotes bone loss by enhancing activity of a protein that stimulates fat cells but inhibits bone cells. "The bone effect is dear," says...