Your appetite may not be entirely your own. New research published in Nature reveals a groundbreaking discovery: a “sixth sense” scientists are calling the “Neurobiotic Sense,” where gut bacteria directly influence hunger and satiety signals. The message isn’t fatalistic, you’re not just a puppet of your microbes. Instead, this science highlights how deeply interconnected we are with the microbial world inside us, and how understanding this connection can empower us to make better choices for gut health, appetite control, and long-term metabolic health.
https://staycuriousmetabolism.substack.com/p/the-hunger-signal-hidden-in-a-bacterial
The paper in question: A gut sense for a microbial pattern regulates feeding
TLDW: Eat protein first to feel less hungry
summerizer
- A new study in Nature is presented claiming a “neurobiotic sense” (a sixth sense) in which gut microbes directly influence appetite.
- Mechanism described:
- Specialized gut “neuropod” cells detect a bacterial structural protein, flagellin (from bacterial tails/flagella), via Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5).
- Detection triggers release of the satiety hormone PYY (peptide YY) from neuropod cells.
- The satiety signal is transmitted via the vagus nerve (cranial nerve X) to the brain to reduce eating.
- Evidence highlighted (primarily in mice):
- Microscopy shows PYY-producing neuropod cells and their projections into the intestinal lumen.
- Applying flagellin to the gut activates these cells and reduces subsequent food intake, indicating bacteria can drive satiety independent of nutrients.
- Deleting TLR5 specifically in neuropod cells causes overeating, weight gain, and loss of response to flagellin.
- Pharmacologic and genetic “on/off” experiments along the pathway (receptor → PYY → vagus) support the causal chain.
- Human relevance noted:
- Neuropod cells have similar functions in humans.
- PYY is lower in obesity (≈40% lower fasting levels vs. lean; negative correlation with BMI).
- PYY infusion (double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover) reduces food intake at a subsequent buffet meal in both lean and obese participants.
- Dietary protein robustly raises PYY and promotes satiety (shown in controlled meal studies).
- Framing in the video:
- Microbes are portrayed as “microscopic puppeteers,” but the message emphasizes understanding and working with this gut–brain system rather than fatalism.
so yeah, eat a egg before the sleeve of oreos and you will eat less oreos