Regulation of Food Intake After Surgery and the Gut-Brain Axis

Abstract

The metabolic and physiological changes associated with surgery are well established. There is a transient physiological state of impaired glucose tolerance (known as insulin resistance) along with the release of stress hormones and inflammatory mediators (cytokines, cortisol, catecholamines, glucagon) [1–3]. This results in attenuation of the anabolic effects of insulin, impairment of glucose uptake in peripheral tissues (e.g. skeletal muscle and adipose tissue) and enhancement of hepatic gluconeogenesis resulting in hyperglycaemia [4].