The brain-gut interaction: the conversation and the implications

Bi-directional interactions between the gut and the brain play a role in health and disease. It is involved in glucose homeostasis, satiety and obesity, functional gastrointestinal disorders and possibly in inflammatory disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease. Data is starting to elucidate the conversation between the mini brain, enteric nervous system (ENS) and the central nervous system. Various factors play a role in the conversation including sensory output via afferents, neurotransmitters and the gut microbiota.