Appetite

Description

Appetite is a conditioned behavior that results in a desire to consume Food - Appetite does not necessarily occur as a result of hunger (which is a sensation that occurs as a result of peristaltic contractions of the Stomach.  Appetite and satiety are regulated by the Hypothalamus:  the Ventromedial Hypothalamus (VMH) controls satiety while the lateral Hypothalamus (LH) controls Appetite.

 

Substances that suppress the Appetite are known as Anorectics.

The sense of “fullness†that occurs with absence of Appetite is known as Satiety.

Lack of Appetite is known as Hypophagia.

Excessive Appetite is known as Hyperphagia.

 

Alkaloids

 Ephedrine may suppress Appetite.  ^[1]

 

Amino Acids

 5-HTP (5-HTP) (300 mg administered thirty minutes prior to eating) may reduce Appetite (for Carbohydrates) in persons afflicted with Obesity.  ^[2]

 Glutamine may reduce the craving for Carbohydrates.

 Histidine may suppress Appetite.  ^[3]

 L-Dopa may (temporarily) suppress the Appetite during its initial period of use. 

 High dosages of Methionine (25 grams per day - caution is required as this is a high dosage) may suppress the Appetite. 

 Phenylalanine may suppress Appetite (by stimulating CCK production).  ^[4]

 Tryptophan may reduce the craving for Carbohydrates (however it may stimulate the Appetite for other nutrients).  ^[5]

 Tyrosine may suppress Appetite.  ^[6]

 

Carbohydrates

 Cellulose may suppress Appetite. 

 Dietary Fiber may help to suppress or delay Appetite.  ^[7]

 Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) may reduce Appetite.  ^[8]

 Glucomannan may suppress Appetite (due to their ability to absorb 50 - 200 times their weight of water). 

 Optimal Glycogen levels generate Nerve Impulses that result in the suppression of Appetite.  ^[9]

 Guar Gum may suppress Appetite.  ^[10]

 Hemicelluloses may suppress the Appetite. 

 Pectins may suppress Appetite (by delaying the emptying of the Stomach):  ^[11]

 Apple Pectin may suppress Appetite (and is usually utilized for this purpose by persons afflicted with Obesity attempting to achieve weight loss).

 Psyllium may suppress Appetite.  ^[12]

 

Enzyme Inhibitors

 Protease Inhibitors (PIs) may suppress Appetite (by stimulating the production of Cholecystokinin): 

 Protease Inhibitor II may reduce Appetite (by increasing the production of Cholecystokinin).  ^[13]

 

Growth Factors

 Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) may reduce Appetite.  ^[14]

 

Hormones

 Cholecystokinin (CCK) sends Appetite suppressing messages to the Brain:  ^[15]

 CCK affects the quantity of food consumed at meals.  As food accumulates in the Stomach and upper Small Intestines, CCK is released, influencing the Satiety Center of the Hypothalamus (causing Satiety or suppressed Appetite).

 Enterostatin suppresses the Appetite for dietary Fats.

 Glucagon suppresses the Appetite for dietary Proteins.

 Leptin may reduce Appetite by acting on Receptors in the Hypothalamus that regulate Appetite.  ^[16]

 Peptide YY may reduce Appetite.

 

Immune System Chemicals

 Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-a) suppresses Appetite (and is believed to be responsible for the Cachexia that affects many Cancer patients).

 

Lipids

 Fats - Dietary may suppress Appetite (by slowing down the passage of Food through the Digestive System) - this effect occurs due to dietary Fats inhibiting the opening of the Pylorus of the Stomach, thereby slowing down the passage of Foods into the Duodenum.  Dietary Fats also suppress Appetite by stimulating the release of Cholecystokinin (CCK)  ^[17]