Probiotics have made more headlines, especially when it comes to women’s health. There are many products that help in the treatment of gastrointestinal and vaginal health. These products can modify the local environment, down regulate inflammatory cytokines and increase the production of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) that activate immune cells and increase resistance to bacterial pathogens. But that’s only 1/2 the story. We are learning which gut bacteria act like GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic and Mounjaro. These drugs assist with food cravings, weight loss and reduce inflammation.
How can we make our own bacteria or healthy gut flora so we can get these benefits naturally?
Foods that naturally increase our production of GLP-1 are proteins, fiber and healthy fats. Bitters such as bitter greens and vinegar also release GLP-1. Foods that reduce our production of GLP-1 are processed foods that stimulate appetite and our desire to want more (addiction).
So less FFAR4 means less B. vulgaris and less pantothenate that leads to less GLP-1.
When it comes to our microbiome, we need to accept the fact that we are not in complete control. Bacteria can sometimes reign supreme especially when it comes to craving sugar. A recent study in Nature Microbiology showed a connection between the abundance of a certain bacteria in a persons gut and the amount of sugar the person consumed.
A protein called free fatty acid receptor four (FFAR4) affected fat metabolism in mice. Experiments were done suggesting that this protein modulates sugar cravings. And the less FFAR4 in mice, the greater preference for the high sugar diet. Researchers also compared FFAR4 levels in both mice and humans with diabetes and those without the condition and found significantly lower levels in the diabetic groups. So this is where the microbiome comes in: the scientists found that in mice, lower FFA4 levels were tied to a decreased abundance of a gut microbe called Bacteroides vulgatus. This bacteria apparently produces the metabolite pantothenate, known as B5, that triggered the production of GLP-1 which regulates appetite. So less FFAR4 means less B. vulgaris and less pantothenate that leads to less GLP-1.
This is a major finding because it could open up new treatments for Type 2 diabetes. Perhaps in the future a B5 supplement or a drug to increase the amount of FFAR4 will offer new opportunities for treatment. We know that Bacteroides vulgatus is not the only microbe that influences GLP-1 production. Prior studies have shown that Escherichia coli and Akkermansia also stimulate its release. More studies will continue as this is a “hot” topic.
References: Maldarelli, C. Sweet Gut: A microbe could be steering us toward the candy aisle. Scientific American. March 4, 2025.
Pedersen, T. What foods increase GLP-1 levels? Healthline.com. March 13, 2024.