Opioid peptide

Opioid Peptides are short sequences of amino acids which mimic the effect of opiates in the brain. Opioid peptides may be produced by the body itself, for example endorphins, or be absorbed from partially digested food (casomorphins, exorphins and rubiscolins). The effect of these peptides vary, but they all resemble opiates. The opioid food peptides have lengths of typically 4-8 amino acids. The body's own opioids are generally much longer.

Brain opioid peptide systems are known to play an important role in motivation, emotion, attachment behaviour, the response to stress and pain, and the control of food intake.

Opioid peptides produced by the body

 * Endorphin
 * Dynorphin
 * Enkephalin

Opioid food peptides

 * Casomorphin (from milk)
 * Gluten exorphin (from gluten)
 * Gliadorphin/gluteomorphin (from gluten)
 * Rubiscolin (from spinach)

Papers

 * Google Scholar