Estomacals

Estomacals are a proposed class of bioactive molecules associated with the stomach environment. The term is not widely used in standard physiology and is not recognized in major medical references; it appears mainly in speculative or niche texts addressing the interface between diet, gastric secretions, and mucosal biology.

Concept and scope: In speculative usage, estomacals encompass a range of substances—peptide mediators released by gastric mucosa, lipid-derived signaling molecules, or dietary compounds that exert activity within the stomach lumen or on the gastric lining. They would be defined by their site of action (the stomach) and their functional effects on digestion, mucosal defense, or enteroendocrine signaling.

Possible roles: Estomacals are hypothesized to influence gastric acid secretion, bicarbonate and mucus production, gastric motility, and local immune or barrier functions. They could interact with gastric microbiota or with drugs administered orally that affect the stomach environment. In nutraceutical research, estomacals might be examined for contributions to gastric comfort or to the modulation of appetite via gut-brain signaling.

Status: Currently, there is limited empirical consensus on specific estomacals or standardized methods to measure them. The term is better understood as a conceptual or speculative category than a defined biomolecular class. Further research would be needed to identify candidate molecules, characterize mechanisms, and determine physiological relevance.