Role of Peptide YY in the Endocrine Control of Digestion

Peptide YY is released into the circulation after ingestion of a meal, a response that is markedly enhanced in patients with malabsorption. The enhanced release of peptide YY slows gastric emptying and transit of meals through the small intestine. The net effect is increased efficiency of digestion and absorption of nutrients. Once the efficiency of nutrient utilization is optimized and the delivery of unabsorbed nutrients to the distal gut decreased, peptide YY release is inhibited. As peptide YY slows colonic transit, it could also improve salvage of unabsorbed nutrients by enhancing bacterial production of volatile fatty acids and their subsequent absorption by the colonic mucosa.