Bitter hops may trick your gut into feeling full
Humulus lupulus L.: Evaluation of Phytochemical Profile and Activation of Bitter Taste Receptors to Regulate Appetite and Satiety in Intestinal Secretin Tumor Cell Line (STC-1 Cells).
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Bitter compounds in hops activate specific receptors (Tas2r138 and Tas2r120) in the gut to trigger satiety hormones.
Most people associate bitterness with unpleasant taste, not appetite control—this flips the script by showing bitterness may be a biological signal for fullness.
Practical Takeaways
Avoid drinking hop-heavy beers hoping to suppress appetite—there’s no proof it works in humans.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Bitter compounds in hops activate specific receptors (Tas2r138 and Tas2r120) in the gut to trigger satiety hormones.
Most people associate bitterness with unpleasant taste, not appetite control—this flips the script by showing bitterness may be a biological signal for fullness.
Practical Takeaways
Avoid drinking hop-heavy beers hoping to suppress appetite—there’s no proof it works in humans.
Publication
Journal
Molecular nutrition & food research
Year
2024
Authors
Ludovica Lela, Vittorio Carlucci, C. Kioussi, Jaewoo Choi, Jan F. Stevens, L. Milella, D. Russo
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Claims (7)
Activation of sodium-sensing neurons (NST) by oral sodium intake modulates satiety signaling and reduces appetite.
The bitter taste of many plant foods is a direct result of the presence of defensive phytochemicals that deter herbivory.
Because hops make gut cells release fullness signals in a lab dish, scientists think they might be used in supplements to help people feel less hungry and fight obesity.
A hop extract makes certain gut cells release hormones that make you feel full and reduces the hormone that makes you feel hungry, by activating special taste receptors in the gut.
Hops have bitter chemicals (called alpha and beta acids) that can bind to special taste receptors found in gut cells in a lab dish.