GLP-1 Linked to Gut Microbiome
In a groundbreaking new study published in Nature Microbiology, researchers have uncovered a fascinating link between our gut, a specific gene, and our cravings for sugar. "Free fatty acid receptor 4 modulates dietary sugar preference via the gut microbiota," suggests a new mechanism that could pave the way for new therapies to combat sugar overconsumption and related metabolic diseases like diabetes.
For years, scientists have known that an intense preference for sugary foods is a major contributor to the global rise in diabetes. However, the precise biological pathway driving this preference has remained a mystery. This new research offers an explanation.
The study found that patients with diabetes, as well as diabetic mouse models, have significantly lower expression of a gene called free fatty acid receptor 4 (Ffar4). This receptor, which is activated by long-chain fatty acids, appears to be a key player in regulating our desire for sweets. When Ffar4 expression was decreased, subjects showed a much stronger preference for sugar. Conversely, when researchers boosted Ffar4, sugar cravings were significantly reduced.
But the story doesn't end there. The research reveals that Ffar4 doesn't work alone. It interacts with the gut microbiome, specifically by influencing the abundance of a bacterium called Bacteroides vulgatus. When Ffar4 levels drop, so do the levels of B. vulgatus and its primary metabolite, pantothenate.
This is where the chain reaction gets interesting. Pantothenate is crucial because it promotes the secretion of GLP-1. Essentially, a healthy Ffar4 gene leads to a healthy population of B. vulgatus, which produces a metabolite that tells your body to stop craving sugar.
By supplementing with B. vulgatus or pantothenate this might help reset our body’s natural response to sugar. This research provides a crucial piece of the puzzle, illuminating the complex dialogue between our gut and our dietary choices.
Zhang, T., Wang, W., Li, J. et al. Free fatty acid receptor 4 modulates dietary sugar preference via the gut microbiota. Nat Microbiol 10, 348–361 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-024-01902-8
