Gut Hormones - Appetite, mood and health

Natasha Kapoor PhD Fellow, Diabetes Complication Research Centre, University College Dublin

Our body needs food as a source of fuel to power all of its processes. 

Digestion – Gastrointestinal system Gastrointestinal hormones – help digest and absorb

food

Journey of a Pizza Slice

Stomach

Ghrelin

Ghrelin

hunger

Wren, A. M., et al. (2001). "Ghrelin enhances appetite and increases food intake in humans." J Clin Endocrinol Metab 86(12): 5992.

How to achieve lower Ghrelin Levels ?

Ghrelin seems to be a hormone that can’t be directly controlled with drugs, diets or supplements.

Avoid weight extremes Eat more proteinRegular eating No skipping meals Maintain a stable weight

Small Intestine

Hormone Cocktail

CholecystokininPeptide tyrosine tyrosineGlucagon like peptide- 1Oxyntomodulin

CCK

Gallbladder to release a substance called bile Bile- essential for the digestion and absorption of fat decreases food intake

Little, T. J., et al. (2005). "Role of cholecystokinin in appetite control and body weight regulation." Obes Rev 6(4): 297-306.

PYY

Released after a meal Reduces food intake Makes you feel full

Batterham, R. L., et al. (2002). "Gut hormone PYY3-36 physiologically inhibits food intake." Nature 418(6898): 650-654.

GLP-1

Released after a meal Reduces food intake Makes you feel full

Naslund, E., et al. (1999). "Energy intake and appetite are suppressed by glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in obese men." Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 23(3): 304-311.

OXM

Released after a meal Reduces food intake Makes you feel full

Cohen, M. A., et al. (2003). "Oxyntomodulin suppresses appetite and reduces food intake in humans." J Clin Endocrinol Metab 88(10): 4696-4701.

Two major roles for gut hormones in appetite regulation

The release of gut hormones can modulate normal hunger and satiety.

Obesity - 37% of Irish adults overweight, 24% obese

Very high levels of gut hormones may be released to generate food dislike and nausea.

Hot topics in the field of research

Gut hormone infusion study

GLP-1 analogue

GLP-1 responders/non- repsonders

Gut Hormone Study

How to achieve higher satiety gut hormone levels ?

Protein

Healthy Fats

Fiber

Complex carbohydrates