Regulating Appetite by Targeting Nutrient Delivery in the Gut
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Dept of Medicine
Abstract
The prevalence of obesity has risen rapidly and robustly in the past fifty years due to the easy availability of energy dense foods in a sedentary environment. Targeting the body's appetite-regulating systems to control calorie intake is a novel and consumer friendly approach to weight management. A promising approach is to deliver specific nutrients to the specific site in the gastrointestinal tract where they trigger nutrient sensing circuits which in turn signal to the brain to reduce food intake. We have shown that this gut-brain axis can be manipulated to reduce subsequent food intake. This project aims to demonstrate "molecule to product" capability and examine the potential market for health claims from this and prior work. The evidence generated in the current BBSRC study will support a health claim, and the potential to market satiating products with scientifically proven effects represents a significant commercial opportunity which we wish to develop with Follow-on-Funding.
Publications
Morrison DJ
(2016)
Formation of short chain fatty acids by the gut microbiota and their impact on human metabolism.
in Gut microbes
Lu B
(2023)
Impact of the short-chain fatty acid propionate on mesenteric adipose tissue and insulin sensitivity
in Proceedings of the Nutrition Society
Caengprasath N
(2020)
Internalization-Dependent Free Fatty Acid Receptor 2 Signaling Is Essential for Propionate-Induced Anorectic Gut Hormone Release.
in iScience
Keller-Pintér A
(2023)
Managing type 2 diabetes: targeting a microbial enzyme as a novel treatment option
in Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy
Edwards CH
(2015)
Manipulation of starch bioaccessibility in wheat endosperm to regulate starch digestion, postprandial glycemia, insulinemia, and gut hormone responses: a randomized controlled trial in healthy ileostomy participants.
in The American journal of clinical nutrition
Malkova D
(2020)
Moderate intensity exercise training combined with inulin-propionate ester supplementation increases whole body resting fat oxidation in overweight women.
in Metabolism: clinical and experimental
Johnson LP
(2015)
Prebiotics Modulate the Effects of Antibiotics on Gut Microbial Diversity and Functioning in Vitro.
in Nutrients
Polyviou T
(2016)
Randomised clinical study: inulin short-chain fatty acid esters for targeted delivery of short-chain fatty acids to the human colon.
in Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics
| Description | We have developed the food with inulin propionate ester The volunteer studies have been completed We are currently analysing the results from the studies We are linking up with an industrial partner We have the patent for the inulin propionate ester WO2014020344A1 in 2018 we submitted a dossier of novel foods claim WE are forming a spinout company |
| Exploitation Route | This is offer a potential ingredient that will suppress appetite to the food industry |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Healthcare |
| Description | Findings form this study have led to a novel foods application Dossier has been submitted to EFSA for novel food ingredient, for four years we have been answer questions about this - we are still awaiting the outcome The work has resulted in four papers. |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Impact Types | Societal |
| Description | Increase colonic propionate as a method of preventing weight gain in young adults |
| Amount | £1,400,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EME/15/185/16 |
| Organisation | NIHR Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre (NETSCC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2018 |
| End | 04/2022 |
| Description | Commecial Grouping |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Department | NERC SUERC CIAF Cosmogenic Isotope Analysis Facility |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This team is commecialing the inulin propionate ester |
| Collaborator Contribution | Finding funding |
| Impact | Interlecual property |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | FFAR2 signaling |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Expertise in entroendocrine nutrient signaling |
| Collaborator Contribution | Ed Tate- new chemical tools Aylin Hanyaloglu - receptor biology Kevin Murphy - gut hormone physiology |
| Impact | Non at present |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Imperial Nestle Collaboration |
| Organisation | Nestlé (Global) |
| Department | Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Developing research partnership |
| Collaborator Contribution | Cutting edge science Knowledge of the market |
| Impact | To early |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Metabolite and nutrition partnership |
| Organisation | Murdoch University |
| Country | Australia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This partnership will develop links around food metabolomics a food strucutures |
| Collaborator Contribution | The phenome centre at Murdock Univesity will provide anylitical techniques to understand food strucutre |
| Impact | It is too early in the collaberation to have impact |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Stable Isotope and Short Chain Fatty Acid Partnership |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is an academic partnership with Dr Douglas Morrison. He has developed methods using stable isotopes to monitor the metabolic effects on diet. He is also a partner in the SCFA programme |
| Collaborator Contribution | He leads the stable isopote analysis |
| Impact | There are a number of grants and papers that have come from the partnership |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Title | Propionate inulin ester |
| Description | The propionate inulin ester when given to humans reduces appetite and recents weight gain |
| IP Reference | GB1213629.7 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2012 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | We have received BBSRC follow on funding to look at commercialisation |
| Title | Novel food ingredient dossier submitter |
| Description | Inulin propionate ester. WE have submitted the dossier for novel foods to the EU. This novel to phase 3 clinical trial |
| Type | Products with applications outside of medicine |
| Current Stage Of Development | Market authorisation |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2018 |
| Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
| Impact | This is potentially the only therapy for the prevention of weight gain. |
| Company Name | SatisFed |
| Description | SatisFed develops a food supplement that aims to use gut hormones to suppress appetite. |
| Year Established | 2022 |
| Impact | Not applicable at the moment |
| Description | BBSRC Innovator |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | BBSRC Innovator of the year finalist (with Prof Gary Frost) which involved a open floor discussion with attendees around out innovation - Inulin Propionate Ester. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/news/people-skills-training/2016/160406-n-innovator-of-the-year-finalists-ann... |
| Description | BRIT Pact symposium of Arthritus |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a formal information giving lecture with a question and answer session |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | British Dietetics Association Obesity Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Spoke to expert dietitian about hte potential role of the gut microbiota in dietetic practice |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bda-obesity-group-annual-conference-2020-tickets-69660236643# |
| Description | British Nutrition Foundation Annual Lecture |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presented an update on personalised nutrition to stimulate debated |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.nutrition.org.uk/training-and-events/conference-recordings/#:~:text=The%20British%20Nutr... |
| Description | Clinical Mixer |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 50 people listened to a short talk on the role of carbohydrate on health |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Debate at Food Matters Live |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The debate stimulate lots of dicsussion There has been a number of enquirers form industry interested in SCFA |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.foodmatterslive.com/ |
| Description | ECNP epert panel |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Workshop to disseminate the influence of food on central neurological processing |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Exhibition at the Science Museum |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was a display in the Cravings exhibition that highlighted our work on dietary fibre and appetite regulation There has been a large interest in the area with an large number of email enquires about the topic |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Experimental Biology conference Boston |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Participants in your research and patient groups |
| Results and Impact | Talk sparked discussion Requests of further information about studies |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://experimentalbiology.org/2015/Home.aspx |
| Description | FENS conference Dublon |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Spoke to an audance of over 100 one food and the gut covering aspects from many of my awards |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.fens2019.org/ |
| Description | Federation of European Neuroscience Societies Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Formal lecture to 150 nutirtional scientist |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| URL | https://fensforum.org/ |
| Description | Food digestion meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 400 scientist attended a two day meeting. I present the impact of fermentable carbohydrate on appetite regulation. Good audience feed back |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Food matters live |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 120 people attended a lecture at food matters live. This was dissemination of research findings |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://www.b2match.eu/foodmatterslive2016 |
| Description | Food of tomorrow Science Museum |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Ran demonstrations of fermentable carbohydrate from a stall at the science museum |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Fructan Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I gave a lecture and judge the posters. Good feed back at the lecture |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Future Foods Imperial Lates |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Over 4000 people attended the event. We diseminated information about food digestions and new ways to monitor food intake |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.imperial.ac.uk/events/167015/imperial-lates-future-food/ |
| Description | Great Exibition Road Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We demonstrated how food is digested as the role of the microbiota. This sparked a lot of questions |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.imperial.ac.uk/events/160698/great-exhibition-road-festival-2023/ |
| Description | IAEA |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited to participate on an expert panel at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to develop new stable isotope based tests for gut dysfunction. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | ILSI workshop on fermentation and appetite |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The talk sparked likely debate Industrial partners consider the use of inulin propionate ester in there products |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.ilsi.org/Pages/HomePage.aspx |
| Description | Imperial College Fringe Festival "Food of Tomorrow" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The fringe was a totally food based activity highlighting Imperial's contribution to the food chain. It highlighted out BBSRC and NIHR work. A large number of people from school children to adults attended each stall |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://www.imperial.ac.uk/be-inspired/festival/fringe/ |
| Description | Imperial Lates "Food for Thought" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was a science outreach week focused on food. If gaave feed back from the general public on our research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.imperial.ac.uk/be-inspired/lates/food-for-thought/ |
| Description | Imperial Murdoch Collaberation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a two week research scoping exercise |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Imperial Science Festival - dissemination to general public |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We had a two stands disseminating information in out work on dietary fibre and dietary assessment |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.imperial.ac.uk/festival/about/festival-2017/ |
| Description | Lecture at British Endocrine Society |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The presentation stimulated further debate after the talk. I was approached by a number of interested potential collaborators. The talk raised the issue of short chain fatty acid metabolism in a forum where it hadn't been released before. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.endocrinology.org/meetings/2015/SFEBES2015/index.aspx |
| Description | Media interest in propionate inulin ester |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Publication of the Gut paper on inulin propionate ester sparked a lot of media interest Global coverage of the results from the Gut publication |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015 |
| URL | http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2868739/Is-powder-secret-making-slim-Supplement-added-brea... |
| Description | NFU visit to JIC |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Raise awareness of food structure |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | NIHR Imperial College BRC open day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Over 500 people attended the Imperial College NIHR open day where we demonstrated out work in the NIHR BRC |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://imperialbrc.nihr.ac.uk/2019/09/22/nihr-imperial-research-open-day-friday-15th-november-2019/ |
| Description | New Frontiers in Food and Drink |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Lecture stimulate interest in the Imperial Glasgow new molecule for appetite suppression. Lots of interest from the 200 business people business people |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.newfrontiersinfoodanddrink.co.uk/ |
| Description | Nutrition Society Lecture |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 500 people listen to my talk on the role of short chain fatty acids on health |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.nutritionsociety.org/events/spring-conference-2021-gut-microbiome-and-health |
| Description | Presentaion to Cambridge metabolic group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | 50 post doctoral scientist attended the workshop on short chain fatty acids. The talk raised a number of questions and suggestion |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Quadrum ISP meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This working group was aimed at getting the most out of the Quadram ISP |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://quadram.ac.uk/research_areas/food-innovation-health/ |
| Description | Rank Prize conference - Designing Food Structure to Control Digestion and Improve Health Impacts |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 60 young scientist attended a week long workshop to understand the role of food structure. The aim was to develop interest in this area |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.rankprize.org/index.php/symposia |
| Description | Science Museum Cravings Exhibition |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Exhibition of work on fermentation at the Science Museum The exhibition has been seen by over 4 million people |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/visitmuseum/Plan_your_visit/exhibitions/cravings.aspx |
| Description | Visit to Norway to talk to opinion makes about Nutrition |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Talk to 15 Norwegian opinion leaders about the role of Nutrition in the prevention of non communicable disease highlighting my research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Workshop at DAVOS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | 120 people attended a science update at DAVOS. My talk was on the double hit of Malnutritiion |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2018 |