Sugars and non-nutritive sweetener sensing in the gastrointestinal tract

Student thesis: Doctoral ThesisDoctor of Philosophy

Abstract

Background
The increase in carbohydrate availability, particularly in the form of added sugars, in the modern dietary landscape may be linked to the increase in obesity and type two diabetes mellites rates worldwide. Recommendations to decrease sugar intake has led to an increased intake of non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS); however, their metabolic effects are not well understood. Distributed along the length of the gastrointestinal tract are macronutrient sensing cells—enteroendocrine cells (EEC)—that play a key role in regulating feeding behaviour and energy balance and controlling gut hormone release and nutrient transport. Recent studies have suggested that these cells may contain disaccharidases, which may sense dietary carbohydrates, as well as the sweet-taste receptor heterodimer, T1R2/3, which may sense NNS; therefore, potentially regulating sugar transport capacity and incretin release. However, the precise role of the T1R2/3 receptor in intestinal sensing remains controversial.

Aims
We aimed to investigate the metabolic effects of dietary CHO and NNS in EEC and in humans.

Hypothesis
We hypothesised that disaccharidases and the T1R2/3 receptors are expressed in EEC, which may sense dietary carbohydrates and NNS and affect incretin release, blood glucose and appetite.
Date of Award1 Oct 2020
Original languageEnglish
Awarding Institution
  • King's College London
SupervisorChristopher Corpe (Supervisor)

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