Changes in fibroblast growth factor 21 levels associated with alcohol consumption and smoking cessation

Q: Why is alcohol cessation important for FGF21 research?

Alcohol intake is known to raise endogenous FGF21, but prior knowledge about what happens to FGF21 after stopping alcohol is limited. This study targets that gap by comparing persistent drinkers with those who stopped drinking.

Q: How did alcohol intake affect FGF21 levels in the study?

In Study 1, FGF21 levels at 240 minutes after beer intake were higher than after water intake. The results support an acute, moderate alcohol-related rise in FGF21.

Q: Did quitting smoking change FGF21 levels?

Smoking cessation showed no effect on plasma FGF21 levels in Study 2 (P = 0.13). The findings suggest that FGF21 responses were not driven by stopping smoking.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Jiven

Background: Alcohol consumption increases endogenous fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), yet the impact of alcohol cessation on FGF21 remains unclear, and the effects of cigarette smoking and quitting on FGF21 have not been established. Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted using two prospective intervention studies, assessing FGF21 responses during alcohol versus water intake and after 12 weeks of dulaglutide versus placebo with smoking and alcohol cessation status. Results: Acute alcohol increased FGF21; stopping alcohol decreased FGF21, while smoking cessation showed no effect. Conclusion: The findings indicate dynamic, potentially liver-recovery-related FGF21 changes after drinking cessation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Introduction

RESEARCH Endocrine Connections (2026) 15 e250713 [https://doi.org/10.1530/EC-25-0713](https://doi.org/10.1530/EC-25-0713) Received 21 October 2025 Accepted 11 December 2025 Available online 12 December 2025 Version of Record published 5 January 2026 | Changes in ﬁbroblast growth factor 21 levels associated with alcohol consumption and smoking cessation
Clara O Sailer􀀁1,2,*, Cyril F Vogel1,*, Sophie Monnerat􀀁1, Leila Probst1, Mirjam Christ-Crain1,†, Bettina Winzeler1,3,† and Julie Refardt􀀁1,4,†
1Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
2Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
3Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Clinical Nutrition, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
4Department Internal Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Correspondence should be addressed to C O Sailer: [cosailer@bwh.harvard.edu](cosailer@bwh.harvard.edu)[ ](cosailer@bwh.harvard.edu)*(C O Sailer and C F Vogel contributed equally to this work as ﬁrst authors)
†(M Christ-Crain, B Winzeler and J Refardt contributed equally to this work as last authors) | | --- | | Abstract
Background: Alcohol consumption was shown to increase endogenous ﬁbroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), but knowledge about the effect of alcohol cessation on FGF21 is limited. The effects of cigarette smoking and cessation on FGF21 levels are unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate moderate alcohol and cigarette consumption and their cessation on FGF21 levels.
Methods: This is a secondary analysis of two prospective intervention studies. Study 1: ten healthy men undergoing a beer or water intervention with blood sampling over 720 min. Differences in FGF21 levels between alcohol and water intake were assessed using a mixed-effect model. Study 2: 144 alcohol-drinking men or women undergoing a 12-week intervention of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist dulaglutide vs placebo on smoking and alcohol cessation. Differences in FGF21 levels after 12 weeks of treatment with GLP-1 in persistent drinkers/smokers compared to those who had stopped drinking/smoking, were assessed using mixed-effect models.
Results: Study 1: FGF21 levels at 240 min following beer intake were higher compared to water intake (1.386.0 pg/mL (95% CI: 934.55; 1,837.44), P < 0.001) . Study 2: participants who stopped drinking alcohol had lower FGF21 levels compared to persistent drinkers (􀀁228.65 pg/mL (95% CI: 􀀁440.4; 􀀁14.6), P = 0.03) . Smoking cessation had no effect on FGF21 levels (P = 0 . 13) .
Conclusion: Our ﬁndings demonstrate a dynamic response in FGF21 levels, with acute moderate alcohol consumption inducing elevated FGF21 levels, and cessation of drinking lowering FGF21 levels, indicative of potential liver recovery. No effect of cigarette smoking cessation on plasma FGF21 levels was observed.
Keywords: FGF21; glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist; metabolic changes; liver disease | Published by Bioscientiﬁca Ltd. [https://ec.bioscienti](https://ec.bioscienti)ﬁ[ca.com](ca.com) © 2026 the author(s) This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4 .0 International License. C O Sailer et al. Endocrine Connections (2026) 15 e250713 [https://doi.org/10.1530/EC-25-0713](https://doi.org/10.1530/EC-25-0713) Introduction Alcohol consumption is a major health burden and is ranked one of the leading risk factors for loss in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) (1) by inducing liver diseases, pancreatitis, cardiometabolic complications, pneumonia, and malignancy (2) . How alcohol inﬂuences metabolism is actively being investigated, and improved understanding of the underlying biology may prove helpful in identifying pharmacological targets and treatment strategies for alcohol cessation (3) . Fibrob

FAQs

Why is alcohol cessation important for FGF21 research?

Alcohol intake is known to raise endogenous FGF21, but prior knowledge about what happens to FGF21 after stopping alcohol is limited. This study targets that gap by comparing persistent drinkers with those who stopped drinking.

How did alcohol intake affect FGF21 levels in the study?

In Study 1, FGF21 levels at 240 minutes after beer intake were higher than after water intake. The results support an acute, moderate alcohol-related rise in FGF21.

Did quitting smoking change FGF21 levels?

Smoking cessation showed no effect on plasma FGF21 levels in Study 2 (P = 0.13). The findings suggest that FGF21 responses were not driven by stopping smoking.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Jiven