Dietary Signaling is the intricate biological process by which ingested nutrients, specific food components, and overall energy status communicate with and modulate the body’s endocrine, metabolic, and cellular functions. This dynamic communication system involves food-derived molecules acting as direct ligands or modulating key metabolic sensors and gene expression. It is the fundamental link translating nutritional intake into systemic physiological responses and hormonal balance.
Origin
This concept is an evolution of nutritional science, moving beyond a simple caloric and structural view of food to recognize its role as an informational molecule. The field of molecular nutrition established that macronutrients and micronutrients directly regulate the transcription of genes involved in energy metabolism and hormone synthesis. The term emphasizes the direct, signal-transducing capacity of dietary components on regulatory pathways.
Mechanism
The mechanism involves nutrients or their metabolites interacting with various cellular energy sensors and transcription factors, such as mTOR, AMPK, and nuclear receptors. For example, amino acids signal via mTOR to regulate protein synthesis, while fatty acids can bind to PPAR receptors to influence lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity. These integrated signals dictate cellular growth, energy storage, and the secretion profiles of major metabolic hormones like insulin and ghrelin.
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