Hormonal
The enteric nervous system (ENS) directly senses luminal nutrients (glucose, fatty acids, amino acids) via specific receptors and ion channels on enteric neurons, independent of enteroendocrine cell intermediaries.
Your gut has its own nervous system that directly senses nutrients like glucose and fats, not just through hormones but through direct neural pathways. This 'second brain' communicates with your central brain to regulate hunger and satiety. Understanding this can help explain why certain foods trigger immediate physiological responses and why gut health is crucial for metabolic regulation.
It has been found that enteric neurons express SGLT1, monocarboxylate transporters like MCT- 2, GPR41, Pept2, and amino acid receptors [91–94]. It is known that intrinsic sensory neurons within the ENS directly discern stimuli without reliance on synaptic transmission...
Why this rating
Based on a review of multiple studies including single-cell RNA sequencing and immunohistochemistry.
Source
The Enteric Neuronal Circuitry: A Key Ignored Player in Nutrient Sensing Along the Gut–Brain Axis
Ester Nikolla et al. · The FASEB Journal · 2025
DOI 10.1096/fj.202500220rr
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