Rather than simply being a mechanism for food absorption and excretion, the gastrointestinal tract, with its nerve cells, receptors and hormones, functions almost like a “second brain.” The two human incretin hormones described so far are glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). Both hormones are deactivated by the hormone dipeptidyl peptidase-4. The incretins are secreted by the stomach and small intestine in response to food. Both GLP-1 and GIP increase insulin release by the pancreas. Fats, amino acids and glucose all stimulate incretin release
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