A recent study has revealed that glucose (blood sugar) naturally moves from the bloodstream to the small intestine, where beneficial gut microbes feed on it and convert it into essential compounds for the body.
The study also found that Metformin, a common diabetes medication, quadruples glucose secretion in the intestine. This discovery could pave the way for innovative therapeutic strategies to regulate the gut microbiome and improve patient health.
Study Details and Implications
The research was conducted by scientists at Kobe University in Japan and was published in Communications Medicine on March 3. The findings were also reported by EurekAlert.
How Do Gut Microbes Utilize Glucose?
Gut microbes play a key role in producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which serve as the primary energy source for intestinal lining cells. Previously, it was believed that SCFAs were produced solely from fiber fermentation, but this study reveals that glucose itself also contributes to the process.
Earlier research by the same team indicated that diabetes patients taking Metformin secrete higher amounts of glucose into their intestines compared to others.
A New Pathway for Glucose in the Gut
The researchers discovered that glucose is first secreted into the jejunum (a section of the small intestine) before traveling to the large intestine and rectum, where gut microbes convert it into short-chain fatty acids.
Dr. Wataru Ogawa, an endocrinologist at Kobe University and co-author of the study, stated:
“We were surprised to find that even individuals who do not take Metformin exhibit a certain level of glucose secretion in the gut. This suggests that intestinal glucose secretion is a general physiological phenomenon in animals, with Metformin enhancing this process.”
The study further showed that Metformin increases glucose secretion in the gut by approximately four times in both humans and mice, regardless of whether they have diabetes.
New Research Horizons
The research team is now conducting further studies to understand how Metformin and other diabetes drugs influence glucose secretion, gut microbes, and their metabolic byproducts.
Dr. Ogawa added:
“Glucose secretion from the gut is a previously unrecognized physiological phenomenon. Understanding its molecular mechanisms and how medications interact with this process could lead to the development of new treatments aimed at regulating the gut microbiome and improving overall health.”
