Regulation of Food Intake : A Complex Process

Abstract

<p>Researchers have created a wealth of knowledge about the mechanisms that regulate food intake, appetite and therefore weight control. The control of appetite is a complex mechanism and involves the coordination of inputs from both physiological and environmental sources. Early theoretical approaches were based on the idea that the control mechanism was dedicated exclusively to signals from glucose metabolism, amino acids or proteins, or adipose tissue. However, a complex system of biologic and environmental factors regulates our appetite. The brain integrates chemical and nervous signals to control hunger and satiety. These controls include sensory and gastrointestinal signals, neurotransmitters and neuropeptides. This review paper summarizes the existing plethora of the highly convoluted process of appetite regulation and food intake.</p>

Dietary Management of Obesity: A Review of the Evidence

“…Researchers have uncovered a wealth of knowledge on the molecular mediators of this intricate process involving gut hormones, neuropeptides, neurotransmitters, adiposity signals and endocrine markers. Nevertheless, the definitive roles and mechanisms behind each of these molecules are not fully understood and are yet to be uncovered [ 33 ].…”

“…The hormone ghrelin remains the only orexigenic hormone identified to date; ghrelin is produced in the gut and acts via the central nervous system (CNS) to trigger increased hunger and meal initiation and is reduced following food intake. The degree of ghrelin suppression is thought to be dependent on the type of ingested nutrients, as carbohydrates and proteins have been shown to decrease ghrelin more potently than lipids [ 33 ]. Among the anorexigenic mediators, cholecystokinin (CCK), peptide YY (PYY), glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and leptin have been most prominently studied.…”

“…PYY and GLP-1 are secreted alongside each other by different parts of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and induce satiety via direct central effects but also by delaying gastric emptying. GLP-1 also functions as an incretin hormone, acting on pancreatic β-cells to stimulate the secretion of insulin and inhibit that of glucagon, thus decreasing food intake [ 33 , 34 ].…”

The Mechanistic and Pathophysiological Role of Adiponectin and Resistin towards Regulation of Food Intake and Appetite in Cardiovascular Associated Risk Factor of Metabolic Syndrome

“…There are many theories to explain about appetite mechanism such as Glucostat theory, Dual-centre theory, Aminostatic theory and Lipostat theory [14]. In 1950 [15], Mayer proposed the Glucostat theory which states that the drop in blood glucose level below than the threshold regulates the neuronal activity for the food intake.…”

“…Hunger state will be induced by LH in producing ghrelin hormone which trigger by the drop of blood glucose level while after taking meal blood glucose level will be raise and activate VMH to initiate satiety state. In addition, VMH is potentially found to develop over eating which can lead to obesity [14,19].…”