Polyunsaturated fatty acids promote appetite via the microbiome-gut-brain axis
This study explores how components of industrialized diets influence appetite by altering brain chemistry and the gut microbiome. Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake was found to elevate brain levels of 5-HIAA, a serotonin metabolite linked to increased appetite. Fecal microbiota transplants from PUFA-fed donors into germ-free mice confirmed the presence of an appetite-enhancing microbial signature. These findings highlight a diet-microbiome-gut-brain axis through which industrialized dietary components can modulate eating behavior.