| Theme |
The Gastrointestinal Tract and Appetite Control : Essential Clinical Knowledge |
| Title |
Helicobacter pylori Infection and Appetite |
| Author |
Hiroaki Kusunoki |
Department of General Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kawasaki Medical School |
| Author |
Naohito Yamashita |
Department of General Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kawasaki Medical School |
| Author |
Keisuke Honda |
Department of General Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kawasaki Medical School |
| Author |
Tomoari Kamada |
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kawasaki Medical School |
| Author |
Akiko Shiotani |
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kawasaki Medical School |
| Author |
Ken Haruma |
Department of General Medicine 2, Kawasaki Medical Hospital |
| [ Summary ] |
Appetite plays a very important role in maintaining the homeostasis of the body. Appetite is controlled by the neuroendocrine system, consisting of complex central and peripheral factors. Glucose concentration in the portal vein also controls appetite, as well as gastrointestinal motility and secretion. With respect to peripheral factors regulating appetite, ghrelin affects appetite in the short‒term, and leptin in the long‒term. Although it was previously thought that Helicobacter pylori infection had no effect on the function of the digestive tract, this microorganism has recently been found to be a cause of functional dyspepsia. It has also been established that appetite is enhanced after eradication therapy for Helicobacter pylori, and that both ghrelin and leptin are involved in the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. In this report, we use theories involving ghrelin and leptin, in particular when describing the mechanism by which Helicobacter pylori infection induces FD symptoms, and the pathogenesis by which the eradication therapy improves FD symptoms and appetite. |