Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2025

Control of Eating Behavior Using a Novel Feedback System
Published on: May 8, 2018
Targeted cravings: Unraveling the drivers of nutrient-specific appetite
Clare E Hancock1, Binod Aryal1, Tianji Ma1
1Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
Abstract:
Feeding behaviors are driven not just by caloric needs but also by nutrient-specific appetites, which guide animals to seek out foods that correct specific nutritional deficiencies and fulfill diverse nutrient requirements. Despite the longstanding behavioral manifestations of nutrient-specific appetites for various nutrients, progress in understanding the underlying mechanisms has been slow. In this review, we summarize the challenges and recent advances in the study of nutrient-specific appetites for macronutrients and micronutrients, focusing on sodium- and protein-specific hunger. We examine central mechanisms that integrate peripheral, interceptive, and internal state signals to drive nutrient-specific preference and ingestion. We also explore conserved features and interactions across different nutrient-specific appetites, and discuss their implications for future research.
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