Researchers have discovered a protein that stimulates secretion of ghrelin, an appetite-stimulating hormone produced in the stomach. When fed to mice, the protein, called soy-ghretropin, increased blood levels of ghrelin and boosted their appetite.

The findings, which are published in FEBS Letters, suggest that soy-ghretropin may be developed for elderly people or anorexic patients whose ghrelin levels and food intake are reduced.