A groundbreaking study from Duke University has discovered a new way in which our gut helps us make food choices, leading to potential breakthroughs in obesity treatments and mental health disorders. Researchers have found that specialized sensory cells in the colon, called neuropods, can act like taste buds for the gut.
These tiny cells “sample” nutrients and bacteria, sending signals to the brain to guide eating habits and stop eating when necessary. The phenomenon is called the “neurobiotic sense,” a “hidden sixth sense” that operates from an unexpected place: the gut.
Similar to how we use our other senses to interpret the world, neuropods help us respond to food by detecting bacteria like flagellin. This protein enables bacteria to move and is released when we eat certain types of bacteria.
Neuropod cells have a special receptor called TLR5 that recognizes flagellin and relays this information through the vagus nerve, connecting the gut to the brain. The researchers found that mice with functioning TLR5 receptors ate less, while those without it gained weight.
This discovery opens up new avenues for understanding how diet affects mental health disorders and obesity. Future research should investigate how specific diets alter the microbial landscape in the gut and explore whether antibiotics or probiotics can influence this “hidden sixth sense.”
Source: https://nypost.com/2025/07/23/health/your-colons-got-a-sixth-sense-how-it-can-lead-to-weight-loss