Gut-central nervous system axis is a target for nutritional therapies

Abstract

Historically, in the 1950s, the chemist Linus Pauling established a relationship between decreased longevity and obesity. At this time, with the advent of studies involving the mechanisms that modulate appetite control, some researchers observed that the hypothalamus is the "appetite centre" and that peripheral tissues have important roles in the modulation of gut inflammatory processes and levels of hormones that control food intake. Likewise, the advances of physiological and molecular mechanisms for patients with obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel diseases, bariatric surgery and anorexia-associated diseases has been greatly appreciated by nutritionists. Therefore, this review highlights the relationship between the gut-central nervous system axis and targets for nutritional therapies.

Gut microbiota, the immune system, and diet influence the neonatal gut–brain axis

“…The hypothalamus possesses reciprocal connections between the higher cortical centers such as the reward-related limbic system and the brain stem (19). During a stressful state, hormone and neuropeptide secretion in the gut ultimately invokes cortisol release from the adrenal gland via signals through the hypothalamus.…”

“…During a stressful state, hormone and neuropeptide secretion in the gut ultimately invokes cortisol release from the adrenal gland via signals through the hypothalamus. Gut hormones, namely peptide YY, pancreatic polypeptide, glucagon-like peptide-1, oxyntomodulin, are components of the GBA associated with eating and satiety, while fasting increases ghrelin secretion (19,20). The GBA also influences intestinal immune cells with neuropeptide messages.…”

The Microbiota, the Gut and the Brain in Eating and Alcohol Use Disorders: A ‘Ménage à Trois’?

“…Orexigenic hormones like ghrelin are released in the fasting state and cross the blood-brain barrier to promote food intake by activating neurons that produce neuropeptides like neuropeptide Y and agouti-related peptide (AgRP) in the arcuate nucleus (Pimentel et al, 2012) . Anorexigenic hormones like leptin are released after food ingestion and, via similar mechanisms, activate neuropeptides such as glucagon-like peptide 1 and α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) to promote satiety (Pimentel et al, 2012). When bound to melanocortin receptor 4 (MC4R), the final pathway in satiety signaling (Cone, 2005), α-MSH is involved in the regulation of mood and emotion as well (Kokare et al, 2010).…”

Future Challenges of Whey Proteins

“…Table 6 lists several peripheral hormones and their roles in the regulation of food intake (Pimentel et al, 2012). Milk serum proteins are more potent stimulants of CCK and GLP-1 than casein.…”