A new study found that about 20 minutes after we eat, bacteria in gut will produce a protein suppressing appetite, indicating that in fact our own efforts to control appetite is smaller than we expected before.After the scientists researched the role of E. coli, they found that E. coli releases adequate nutrients protein which can affect the transmission of signals between the gut and the brain after people intake of food, and even activate appetite related neuronal thus let you produce a sense of satiety.

Sergueï Fetissov, who works at University of Rouen in France, participated in the study, he said: “There are many surveys have studied the composition of microorganisms in different pathological environment, but they do not explore the mechanisms behind these associations. E. coli can be released from the bacterial protein involved in the body in the same manner as the saturation signal transmission path molecule, now we need to understand how a group of intestinal microflora is altered can affect such physiological functions. “When we could not eat another piece of pie at the time, not because our stomach and intestines have been extended to the extreme, but because our gut bacteria want to let us know that they have received adequate nutrition, and hope we do not continue eating.

Fetissov and colleagues analyzed protein produced in rat’s E. coli before reaching their conclusions. Within 20 minutes after a meal, the rats began  to produce different types of proteins which were not seen before the meal. Even more interesting is that in humans, about 20 minutes after the meal is exactly the time that we feel very satisfied and very sleepy. The researchers isolated this particular protein: ClpB, and injected into rats, to see if their appetite are affected. They found that both normal-appetite mice or on-diet mice,  their appetite are both reduced and eventually eat less.

This is not the first time researchers have found evidence that bacteria can regulate our appetite, then why do bacteria care so much about how much we eat?It turned out that we have a lot of bacteria inside bodies, but they always maintain a certain balance. Once the number of bacteria increased or decreased, will bring us a lot of health problems. This is what our body’s microbial parasites do not want to see. In fact, E. coli is to maintain their equpium by adjusting the number of our appetite.  Fetissov explains: “I do not know why they put their number remained at around one billion. But within 20 minutes they will be able to breed a new one billion bacteria, and began to produce new proteins regulate our appetite.”

Personally, I think this study has been conducted great. If bacteria can control our appetite, it can also explain why sometimes I feel full enough but just cannot stop eating. On the other hand, researchers still did not answer why the time E. coli produce its protein is 20 minutes, and how ClpB relate the feeling of sleepy. But, I think some medicine companies can put further efforts according to the conclusion draw from this study. If ClpB does restrain appetite, more effective diet products can be made. However, before that, scientists have to make sure that too much ClpB produced by E.coli does not have any side-effects. According to Fetissov, the main purpose for this protein is to maintain a balance inside our bodies. In other words, using proteins for diet is also a way to break this balance. Much more further experiments have to be conducted to claim any other statement.