Researchers suggest that the hormone GDF15, associated with early nausea in pregnancy, may limit alcohol intake in humans.[1] The study included human observation at an okoberfest in Germany, experiments on mice, genetic analysis, and blood tests from drunken medical students and people with alcohol addiction.[1] People with alcohol dependence had, on average, approximately fivefold higher levels of GDF15 compared to adults without the condition.[1] Analysis of data from UK Biobank showed that people with a mutation that disables the GFRAL receptor, which binds GDF15, consumed 2.6 more British units of alcohol per week, equivalent to a large glass of wine, than those without the mutation.[1] The results suggest that GDF15 increases in response to chronic drinking and limits alcohol consumption in healthy people.[1] The study is preliminary, based largely on associations, and does not prove causation.[1] Genetic findings are considered by expert Marlena Fejzo to be particularly new.[1]