Abstract
Peptide hormones are released from the gastrointestinal tract in response to nutrients and communicate information regarding the current state of energy balance to the brain. These hormones regulate appetite, energy expenditure and glucose homeostasis. They can act either via the circulation at target peripheral tissues, by activation of the vagus nerve or by acting on key brain regions implicated in energy homeostasis such as the hypothalamus and brainstem. This review gives an overview of the main gut hormones implicated in the regulation of food intake and how some of these are being targeted to develop anti obesity treatments.
Highlights
Obesity is one of the greatest health care challenges of our time
The focus of this review is to provide a synopsis of the gut-brain cross talk involved in the regulation of food intake
The focus of the review will concentrate on 5 of the most studied gut hormones which have been shown to control food intake and body weight and which are being actively pursued as anti-obesity targets
Summary
Obesity is one of the greatest health care challenges of our time. Currently there are estimated to be 2 billion adults who are overweight worldwide (body mass index 25-30 kg/m2) and a further 500 million are obese (BMI greater than 30 kg/m2). The release of gut hormones such as PYY, GLP-1, and oxyntomodulin (OXM) is stimulated by distension of the stomach, production of nutrients from the digestion of food, and by neuronal signals [26,27]. The focus of the review will concentrate on 5 of the most studied gut hormones which have been shown to control food intake and body weight and which are being actively pursued as anti-obesity targets.
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