Plant-based meat analogues enhance the gastrointestinal motility function and appetite of mice by specific volatile compounds and peptides

Abstract

Eating behavior is critical for maintaining energy homeostasis. Previous studies have found that plant-based meat analogues increased diet intake in mice compared with animal meat under a free feeding mode, however the reasons were unclear. To explore the underlying mechanisms of plant-based meat analogues increasing diet intake, mice were fed animal or plant-based pork and beef analogue diets, respectively. Biochemical and histological analyses were performed to evaluate appetite-regulating hormones and gastrointestinal motility function. Peptiomics and GC-IMS were applied to identify key substances. We found that the intake of plant-based meat analogues significantly enhanced the gastrointestinal motility function of mice. The long-term intake (68 days) of plant-based meat analogues significantly increased the muscle layer thickness of the duodenum and jejunum of mice; the activity of gastrointestinal cells of Cajal were also promoted by upregulating the expression of c-kit related signals as compared to animal meat; plant-based meat analogues intake markedly enhanced the signal intensity of the intestinal neurotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) by upregulating the expression of 5-HT synthase and receptors but downregulating its transporter and catabolic enzyme in the intestine. Moreover, plant-based meat analogues intake significantly increased levels of appetite-stimulating factors in the peripheral or hypothalamus but reduced levels of appetite-suppressing factors compared with animal meat. Specific volatile compounds were significantly associated with appetite regulating factors. Among them, 7 substances such as linalool have a potential promoting effect on food intake. Besides, different digestive peptides in gastrointestinal tract may affect eating behavior mainly through the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway, exerting hormone-like effects or influencing endocrine cell secretion. These findings preliminarily clarified the mechanism of plant-based meat analogues promoting diet intake and provided a theoretical basis for a reasonable diet.

Keywords: Appetite; Digestive properties; Food flavor; Gastrointestinal emptying; Gut-brain axis; Meat analogues.