Related: <\/strong>Mounjaro’s Effect on Brain’s ‘Cravings’ Measured For The First Time<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a hormone that is naturally produced by the body and which helps regulate blood sugar levels and feelings of fullness. GLP-1’s release is stimulated by certain foods and gut microbes, and its mechanism of action is mimicked by drugs like semaglutide (the ingredient behind Ozempic).<\/p>\n Watch the video below for a summary of the research:<\/p>\n People with type 2 diabetes<\/a> typically have impaired GLP-1 function, leading to issues with blood sugar control, which is why Ozempic<\/a> and other GLP-1 agonists work as treatments.<\/p>\n These drugs mimic natural processes in the body, and while they have proved very effective, some researchers want to figure out how to get the body to produce more GLP-1 on its own.<\/p>\n “A growing body of research has revealed that our cravings for dietary components originate from signals sent from the gut, a key organ in transmitting dietary preferences,” explain<\/a> the authors in their paper published in January.<\/p>\n “However, which genes, gut flora, and metabolites in the gut microenvironment are involved in the regulation of sugar preference is currently unclear.”<\/p>\n The new research suggests gut microbes like Bacteroides vulgatus<\/a> and their metabolites may help shape a person’s sweet tooth.<\/p>\n In experiments, if mice could not produce a gut protein, called Ffar4, the researchers found the gut colonies of B. vulgatus shrank. This, in turn, led to a decrease in the release of a hormone known as FGF21, which is associated with sugar cravings.<\/p>\n In studies of mice taking GLP-1 agonists, researchers have found<\/a> the drugs stimulate FGF21.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, in humans, some studies<\/a> suggest that those with genetic variants for the FGF21 hormone are about 20 percent more likely to be top-ranking consumers of sweet foods.<\/p>\n Related: Experts Reveal a Drug-Free Way to Mimic The Effects of Ozempic<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n In a blood analysis of 60 participants with type 2 diabetes and 24 healthy controls, the researchers in China found<\/a> that Ffar4 mutations, which reduce FGF21 production, are linked to an increased preference for sugar, “which may be an important contributor to the development of diabetes.”<\/p>\n What’s more, the gut microbiome could be a key mediator of that process.<\/p>\n Sure enough, the research team found that when mice were treated with a metabolite of B. vulgatus, it boosted GLP-1 secretion, which then also triggered the secretion of FGF21.<\/p>\n Together, this meant more blood sugar control and fewer sugar cravings in mice.<\/p>\n Whether the same will extend to humans remains to be seen, but the authors claim<\/a> their study “provides a strategy for diabetes prevention.”<\/p>\n![\"YouTube](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1763427912_62_0.jpg\")
frameborder=”0\u2033 allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen><\/p>\n![\"Subscribe](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/health-newsletter-subscribe-promo-final-642x337.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"New](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/biomedicines-12-02328-g001-642x366.png\")
Diagram of GLP-1 agonist pathway and FGF21 pathway. (Ayesh, Biomedicines<\/a>, 2024)<\/p>\n