Question

1. On Saturday, Mark has a waffle with syrup for breakfast at 7:30, and by 11:00 he feels hungry again. On Sunday, he has bacon and eggs and feels satisfied until noon when he normally eats lunch. If he is eating equal amounts of food on both days, why is there a difference in hunger? 2. Which of the following do you think would have the worst effect on digestion: surgical removal of the pancreas, gallbladder, or stomach? Explain. 3. Why would a patient whose liver has been extensively damaged by hepatitis could show raised levels of thyroid hormone and bilirubin in the blood?

Answer 1

1) Waffle and syrup are simple carbohydrates, they cause drastic rise in blood sugar causing a massive insulin release. Subsequently there is a drop in sugar and hunger at that point of time due to the release of Ghrelin or the hunger hormone which detects low sugar and triggers the brain to promote hunger. 100g of waffel and 100 g of maple syrup gives 100g of carbohyrates. However bacon and eggs equal portion contains Fats and protein mainly and they are insulin neutral and keeps full longer as they contain minimal carbohydrates.(4g approximately).

2)Removal of the pancreas would have the most severe effects on absorption because as most chemical digestion occurs in the small intestine, absorption requires the action of pancreatic enzymes, so removal of pancreas would stop making the enzymes which will affect the digestion process.

3)In many cases with Hepatitis people unknowingly have anti-thyroid antibodies. Produced by the immune system to help fight infection, antibodies are usually produced in response to the introduction of foreign substances in the body. Unfortunately, the immune system can produce antibodies acting against the body itself, causing unwanted inflammation and damage. Known as autoimmunity, some people generate antibodies that act against the tissue in their own thyroid gland. This autoimmune problem may result in inflammation and subsequent thyroid gland injury that can cause hypothyroidism.

Bilirubin is the end product of the red blood cells which is excreted by the liver . So when the liver is affected it causes impaired removal of bilirubin causing the bilirubin to rise which then accumulates in the blood as it is not removed from the body.