Patient-Friendly Explanation

FGF21 is a protein your body makes, mainly in the liver, that helps regulate blood sugar and fat burning. It acts as a stress signal that helps your body adapt during fasting and can influence appetite and energy use. Scientists are studying new medications based on FGF21 to treat weight gain and fatty liver.

Clinical Definition

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a hepatokine that regulates glucose and lipid metabolism, ketogenesis, and energy expenditure via FGFR1 and beta-klotho receptor complexes in adipose tissue and the central nervous system. Circulating FGF21 levels rise paradoxically in obesity, suggesting a state of FGF21 resistance. Pharmacological FGF21 analogues are in clinical trials for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and obesity, with demonstrated effects on liver fat, serum lipids, and body weight.

Why It Matters

FGF21-based therapies may soon expand the medical options for people with obesity and fatty liver. NuLifeCare Singapore tracks emerging, evidence-based treatments so patients can make informed decisions about what is genuinely available and suitable.