The role of the gut/brain axis in modulating food intake

Peptide hormones released from the gastrointestinal tract communicate information about the current state of energy balance to the brain. These hormones regulate appetite and energy expenditure via 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. Research in this area has provided novel targets for the pharmacological treatment of obesity.This article is part of a Special Issue entitled ‘Central Control Food Intake’

► Obesity is an increasing major global public health problem.
► We review the evidence for the role of gut hormones in the central control of appetite.
► Gut hormones such as GLP-1 and PYY provide a link between ingested nutritional signals and the central control of appetite.
► We discuss the prospects for utilizing gut hormone-based therapies for the treatment of obesity.