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The ileal brake: A fifteen-year progress report

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Abstract

The "ileal brake" is the primary inhibitory feedback mechanism to control transit of a meal through the gastrointestinal tract in order to optimize nutrient digestion and absorption. Neurohormonal factors mediating this response continue to be identified. Recently, additional brakes that fine-tune transit have been described. When gut traffic control is disrupted, pathologic states characterized by malabsorption and impaired drug bioavailability manifest as diarrhea and malnutrition. An understanding of the importance of these nutrient-triggered brakes provides essential clues to future treatments of chronic diarrhea, malnutrition, and drug malabsorption.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. GI Motility Program and Section of Nutrition, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Boulevard, Suite 7511, 90048, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Gregg W. Van Citters MS & Henry C. Lin MD

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  1. Gregg W. Van Citters MS
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  2. Henry C. Lin MD
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Van Citters, G.W., Lin, H.C. The ileal brake: A fifteen-year progress report. Curr Gastroenterol Rep 1, 404–409 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11894-999-0022-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11894-999-0022-6

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