Mechanism of Anorexia and Effect of Liv.52 on Food Intake

i. Hypoglycaemia increases appetite. Administration of glucose intravenously reduces or allays hunger. However, in diabetes mellitus hunger is present with hyperglycaemia. Mayer has suggested that peripheral arteriovenous glucose difference may be the guiding factor in these cases. When the peripheral arteriovenous blood glucose difference is reduced (i.e. when glucose utilisation by tissues is slow, therefore glucose is not available) hunger is experienced. Conversely when the difference is high a subjective feeling of satiety results.