With it Since the Early Days Importance of the Gastrointestinal Tract for Hunger and Satiety

Peripheral signals from the gastrointestinal tract have an important role in regulating the energy balance. Specific food ingredients stimulate the secretion of gastrointestinal satiety hormones in the small intestine - such as cholecystokinin, glucagon-like peptides, and peptide YY. These peptides interact with the appetite centre in the brain, increase the feeling of satiety, and inhibit food intake. Studies have shown that the digestion of fat is of central importance. Long chain fatty acids stimulate specifically the release of satiety signals. In reverse, the blockade of fat hydrolysis inhibits the release of the satiety signals and results in increased intake of food.