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Incretin Hormones

Meaning

Incretin hormones are a group of gastrointestinal peptides released into the circulation in response to nutrient ingestion, playing a crucial role in glucose homeostasis. The two primary incretins are Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) and Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide (GIP). These hormones are responsible for the “incretin effect,” which describes the significantly greater insulin secretion stimulated by oral glucose compared to intravenous glucose.