The role of the serotonergic system in the regulation of food intake, a systematic review

5-Hydroxytryptamine or serotonin is a biogenic amine that is best known for its function as a neurotransmitter. One of the most important effects of serotonin is its role in regulating food intake. Further understanding of the serotonergic mechanisms affecting food consumption, in addition to improving animal production, can lead to effective serotonin-based drug treatments to help modulate appetite in humans. The purpose of this review is to examine the research conducted on the role of the serotonergic system (except for the interference of its effect with other systems) in the process of obtaining food. In the present study, according to PRISMA guidelines, articles related to the topic were identified using a systematic search of standard keywords in reliable databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed, Springer, Google Scholar, and Elsevier in the period of 1990-2022. In order to obtain more studies, the list of sources of these articles was examined. Finally, 40 articles that met all the conditions for entering the analytical stage were examined. Based on the findings of these studies, serotonin in birds and mammals reduces food intake. Serotonin reuptake inhibitor compounds also cause hypophagia and serotonin receptor agonists and antagonists have different effects on the appetite process. It also seems that 5HT1A, 5HT1B and 5HT2C receptors have the most interaction in the process of appetite modulation. Considering the diversity of serotonin receptors and the distribution of this system in different central and peripheral areas in order to know its role in regulating food intake, it is necessary to carry out more research in this field.
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