Carbohydrate craving: not everything is sweet.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Cravings for carbohydrates have been known about for hundreds of years but the mechanisms behind it were unclear. This review will highlight recent advances in our knowledge of mechanisms to detect carbohydrates in the diet.

RECENT FINDINGS: Recent work has begun to identify the physiological mechanisms by which carbohydrates and glucose are detected and how this drives their intake. Recently, evidence has been found for systems that regulate carbohydrate and glucose intake via taste, hedonic, and homeostatic pathways.

SUMMARY: Identification of the physiological mechanisms that regulate carbohydrate intake will allow a better understanding of how their intake is regulated and responds to changes in dietary intake. Such an understanding will be a key for developing a more rational approach to the development of successful weight loss diets.