Cited by 709Probiotics and Fermented FoodsGut microbiota and healthGastrointestinal motility and disorders

Beneficial metabolic effects of a probiotic via butyrate-induced GLP-1 hormone secretion

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Yadav, Hariom, Lee, Ji-Hyeon, Lloyd, John, Walter, Peter, Rane, Sushil G.·2013·Journal of Biological Chemistry

Abstract

Obesity and diabetes are associated with excess caloric intake and reduced energy expenditure resulting in a negative energy balance. The incidence of diabetes has reached epidemic proportions, and childhood diabetes and obesity are increasing alarmingly. Therefore, it is important to develop safe, easily deliverable, and economically viable treatment alternatives for these diseases. Here, we provide data supporting the candidacy of probiotics as such a therapeutic modality against obesity and diabetes. Probiotics are live bacteria that colonize the gastrointestinal tract and impart beneficial effects for health. However, their widespread prescription as medical therapies is limited primarily because of the paucity of our understanding of their mechanism of action. Here, we demonstrate that the administration of a probiotic, VSL#3, prevented and treated obesity and diabetes in several mouse models. VSL#3 suppressed body weight gain and insulin resistance via modulation of the gut flora composition. VSL#3 promoted the release of the hormone GLP-1, resulting in reduced food intake and improved glucose tolerance. The VSL#3-induced changes were associated with an increase in the levels of a short chain fatty acid (SCFA), butyrate. Using a cell culture system, we demonstrate that butyrate stimulated the release of GLP-1 from intestinal L-cells, thereby providing a plausible mechanism for VSL#3 action. These findings suggest that probiotics such as VSL#3 can modulate the gut microbiota-SCFA-hormone axis. Moreover, our results indicate that probiotics are of potential therapeutic utility to counter obesity and diabetes. Background: The prescription of probiotics as obesity and diabetes therapy is limited because of insufficient efficacy data and lack of understanding of their mechanism of action. Results: The probiotic VSL#3 prevents obesity and diabetes in mice via induction of butyrate and GLP-1. Conclusion: Probiotics modulate the gut flora to elicit beneficial metabolic effects. Significance: Administration of probiotics represents a viable treatment option for obesity and diabetes.

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Crossref · 10.1074/jbc.m113.452516

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  • Administration of prebiotics that shifts the gut microbiome toward increased production of butyrate has beneficial effects associated with higher levels of GLP-1, as well as hypothalamic expression of pro-opiomelanocortin, thereby influencing the hunger-satiety cycle in rodents.

    “Studies in rodents show that the administration of prebiotics that influences a shift in the gut microbiome toward increased production of butyrate has beneficial effects associated with higher levels of GLP-1 (193–195), as well as hypothalamic expression of pro-opiomelanocortin (196), thereby influencing the hunger-satiety cycle.”
  • Probiotics intake may improve markers of insulin metabolism and lipid profiles by reducing cytokines and suppressing NF-κB pathway and gut microbiota-SCFA-hormone axis.

    “Probiotics intake may improve markers of insulin metabolism and lipid profiles by reducing cytokines and suppressing the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) pathway (Shi et al., 2006) and gut microbiota-short chain fatty acids (SCFA)-hormone axis (Yadav et al., 2013).”
  • In glucose-tolerant volunteers, the daily administration of Lactobacillus reuteri or the commercially available VSL#3 increased GLP-1 release into the blood, without a change in insulin sensitivity or body fat distribution.

    “The result was observed in glucose-tolerant volunteers, where the daily administration of Lactobacillus reuteri or the commercially available VSL#3 (a formulation with 8 strains of commensal bacteria, including different strains of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus) increased GLP-1 release into the blood, without a change in insulin sensitivity or body fat distribution [120, 124].”

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Authors
Yadav, H., Lee, J.-H., Lloyd, J., Walter, P., & Rane, S. G.
Affiliations
National Institutes of Health (US)
Corresponding author
Rane, Sushil G.
Venue
Journal of Biological Chemistry
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2013-08
Volume
288
Issue
35
Pages
25088-25097
ISSN
0021-9258 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1993127959
Cited by
709
References
50
Citations by year
2026: 42 · 2025: 63 · 2024: 60 · 2023: 53 · 2022: 73 · 2021: 80 · 2020: 65 · 2019: 52 · 2018: 65 · 2017: 40 · 2016: 41 · 2015: 39 · 2014: 30 · 2013: 5
FWCI
57.25
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Biological Chemistry (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institutes of Health
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
Keywords
probiotics, VSL#3, butyrate, glucagon-like peptide-1, obesity, diabetes mellitus, gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids, insulin resistance, glucose tolerance, intestinal L cells, dietary intake, energy balance
MeSH terms
Animals, Appetite Regulation, Butyrates, Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental, Insulin Resistance, Intestinal Mucosa, Intestines, Male, Obesity, Probiotics, Mice, Glucagon-Like Peptide 1

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