Hormone Found that Decreases Appetite

A study has found that the infusion of a peptide known as PYY3-36 made subjects fell full, which significantly decreased their appetites and their food intake. The study was published in the August 7, 2002, issue of Nature.

The peptide is normally released from the gastrointestinal tract after eating, in proportion to the meal's caloric content. When the subjects in the study received artificial infusions of the hormone at normal post-feeding concentrations, their food intake was reduced by a third for one day. They also reported up to a 40% reduction in perceived levels of hunger over a period of 12 hours after the infusion.

"The discovery that PYY3-36 suppresses appetite could be of huge benefit to those who struggle with weight problems. It may be possible to create a tablet with a similar effect, providing an excellent, natural, and safe long-term treatment for obesity,” said Prof. Stephen Bloom, from Imperial College London (UK), one of the researchers.

Other researchers who participated in the study were from the Oregon Health and Sciences University (Portland, OR, USA) and the Garvan Institute of Medical Research (Sydney, Australia).




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Imperial College London