GDF15 and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency: Other studies support the hypothesis that GDF-15 is more than a general stress induced cytokine, and increased level of plasma GDF-15 is considered as a novel therapeutic target in metabolic regulations (e.g. weight loss, improved insulin resistance, and systolic blood pressure reduction) [9–11].” Further, treatment with the glucose lowering drug metformin increased the circulating levels of GDF-15, and were associated with weight loss, improved glucose metabolism, and decreased appetite, which were correlated to the GDF-15 increase in patients with diabetes with or without obesity [12, 13].