Gastrointestinal Contributions to the Postprandial Experience

Abstract

Ingestión de alimentos; Trastornos gastrointestinales funcionales; Sensaciones homeostáticas

Ingestió d'aliments; Trastorns gastrointestinals funcionals; Sensacions homeostàtiques

Food ingestion; Functional gastrointestinal disorders; Homeostatic sensations

Food ingestion induces homeostatic sensations (satiety, fullness) with a hedonic dimension (satisfaction, changes in mood) that characterize the postprandial experience. Both types of sensation are secondary to intraluminal stimuli produced by the food itself, as well as to the activity of the digestive tract. Postprandial sensations also depend on the nutrient composition of the meal and on colonic fermentation of non-absorbed residues. Gastrointestinal function and the sensitivity of the digestive tract, i.e., perception of gut stimuli, are determined by inherent individual factors, e.g., sex, and can be modulated by different conditioning mechanisms. This narrative review examines the factors that determine perception of digestive stimuli and the postprandial experience.

This work was supported in part by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Dirección General de InvestigaciónCientífica y Técnica, SAF 2016-76648-R). Ciberehd is funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Dan M. Livovsky received support from the Israeli Medical Association and from Israel Gastroenterological Association 2020 fellowship grants.