Impact of Sugars on Hypothalamic Satiety Pathways and Its Contribution to Dysmetabolic States

Abstract

Food behaviour is a complex and multifaceted cooperation between physiologic, psychological, social, and genetic factors, influencing meal timing, amount of food intake, food preferences, and food selections. Deregulation of the neurobiological mechanisms controlling food behaviour underlies the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes, two epidemics of the present century. Several brain nuclei are involved in the regulation of the different components of food behaviours; the hypothalamus is the key in controlling appetite and energy homeostasis. In this review, we will explain the role of the hypothalamus in the control of food intake and its interplay with other brain nuclei important in food behaviour. We will also highlight the deregulation of satiety pathways in type 2 diabetes and obesity and the mechanisms behind this deregulation. Finally, knowing that there are different categories of sugars and that they differently impact food behaviours, we will review in a concise manner the studies referring to the effects of sugars in satiety and reward pathways and their impacts on metabolic diseases.

Analysis of Knowledge Level, Consumption Habits, Sugar and Calories Content in Ice Cream on the Nutritional Status of Depok Students

“…Insulin is known to increase cravings for fat and sugar, reducing hedonic eating. Additionally, after leptin injection in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), food intake decreases, and the ablation of leptin receptors in this area increases the rewarding aspects of enjoyable foods, including sugar 33 .…”

“…Obese individuals and some type 2 diabetes mellitus patients experience hyperleptinemia due to an increase in adipose tissue mass. This state of hyperleptinemia results in a decrease in leptin's ability to suppress appetite or increase the body's energy expenditure, leading to continued weight gain 33 .…”

Influence of insulin sensitivity on food cue evoked functional brain connectivity in children

“…The current state of satiety and postprandial hormonal responses modulate regional activity and functional connections of brain regions vital for ingestive behaviour (Capucho & Conde, 2023). For example, the increase in insulin after glucose ingestion is associated with a reduction in food cue reactivity in the insula, striatum and orbitofrontal cortex in adults (Heni et al, 2014; Kroemer et al, 2013).…”