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Special gut bacterium could help cut sugar cravings
Medical Xpress / Nature Publishing Group / Nature Microbiology ^ | Jan. 13, 2025 | Tingting Zhang et al

Posted on 01/16/2025 7:14:24 PM PST by ConservativeMind

Researchers have identified a gut bacterium that may be associated with reduced dietary sugar intake. The findings, which are based on analyses of humans and mice, could aid the development of therapies to manage obesity and metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes.

Animals are biologically hardwired to crave sugars, but unmanaged sugar preference can lead to high sugar intake, resulting in high blood glucose and increased risk of metabolic diseases. Previous research suggests that our cravings for different foods originate from signals sent to the brain from the gut, a key organ in transmitting dietary preferences. However, the regulation of sugar cravings is a complex process, and the role of gut microbes is unclear.

Xinmiao Liang and colleagues analyzed the blood of 18 mice with induced diabetes and 60 patients with type 2 diabetes and compared them with healthy controls (including 24 human controls). They found that diabetic mice and humans had reduced levels of FFAR4 in the blood, a protein that activates the secretion of GLP-1 (a hormone that regulates blood sugar and appetite).

The researchers observed that lower levels of FFAR4 in mice were associated with a higher preference for sugar. They also found that reduced levels of FFAR4 decreased the intestinal abundance of the gut microbe Bacteroides vulgatus and its metabolite pantothenate.

In mouse models, Zhu and colleagues found that pantothenate was responsible for the secretion of GLP-1 and subsequent secretion of FGF21, a liver hormone that acts directly on the hypothalamus, which is the brain region that controls feeding behavior. They verified this complex gut–liver–brain connection by feeding diabetic mice pantothenate or colonizing them with B. vulgatus, which were both found to significantly decrease their sugar-seeking behavior.

(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: diet; gitract; health; sugar
There does not seem a probiotic with B. vulgatus, but it is one of many that create short-chain fatty acids from soluble fiber.

However, pantothenate is Vitamin B5. Either of these help people reduce sugar intake desire.

1 posted on 01/16/2025 7:14:24 PM PST by ConservativeMind
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To: Mazey; ckilmer; goodnesswins; Jane Long; jy8z; ProtectOurFreedom; matthew fuller; telescope115; ...

The “Take Charge Of Your Health” Ping List

This high volume ping list is for health articles and studies which describe something you or your doctor, when informed, may be able to immediately implement for your benefit.

Email me to get on either the “Common/Top Issues” (20 - 25% fewer pings) or “Everything” list.

2 posted on 01/16/2025 7:14:53 PM PST by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: ConservativeMind

I need a bottle of that gut bacterium for wifey! when I stock Reeses white chocolate, butterfingers, baby Ruth, and Twix big packs in the freezer I get two from each and she gets six or right. it’s not fair! I should at least get as many as she does. but bacterium for her would be helpful. just sayin’.


3 posted on 01/16/2025 7:24:39 PM PST by Qwapisking (Q: know the difference between a petulant 6 y.o. and a liberal? A:age. L.Star )
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To: ConservativeMind

Will B5 be ok to take after removal of the gallbladder?


4 posted on 01/16/2025 7:26:42 PM PST by Trumpette1954 (Live laugh love!cper)
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To: Qwapisking

Not once is the bacterium named.
Eat yogurt.


5 posted on 01/16/2025 7:30:07 PM PST by Fungi
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To: Fungi
You said:

Not once is the bacterium named.

The excerpt says:

They also found that reduced levels of FFAR4 decreased the intestinal abundance of the gut microbe Bacteroides vulgatus and its metabolite pantothenate.

6 posted on 01/16/2025 7:38:58 PM PST by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: Trumpette1954

Yes. It is an essential vitamin.


7 posted on 01/16/2025 7:40:00 PM PST by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: ConservativeMind

Ty. Missed it.


8 posted on 01/16/2025 7:42:18 PM PST by Fungi
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To: ConservativeMind

It’s putting the cart before the horse. Obesity screws up the gut, because of the massive carbohydrate intake. When scientists want to grow Bacteria in a Petri dish, they feed it Sugar. Same thing in the gut. The “bad” bugs love carbs and sugar and dominate.

Put the damn fork down, reduce food intake to barely at or above the basal metabolic rate and the body will do what it was created or adapted to do - burn through the carbs, then starts on the fat, and thus lose the excess poundage. Starve the little bastards out. Everybody wants to take a pill or some quick and easy fix.

“Acid Reflux” is another good un. Left unchecked, it will erode the esophagus. But it doesn’t ordinarily require a pill. Oftentimes People eat so much goddamn food it starts backing up while asleep it isn’t any more complicated than that. “What could it be!?”


9 posted on 01/16/2025 10:35:25 PM PST by Freedom4US
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To: ConservativeMind
Animals are biologically hardwired to crave sugars [...]

Cats aren't! Eagles aren't! Sharks aren't! Crocodiles...

Regards,

10 posted on 01/16/2025 11:45:31 PM PST by alexander_busek (Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
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To: Freedom4US

My Dr. told told me that Diet & Exercise would cure my Erectile Dysfunction.

If I could only get my wife to Diet & Exercise! 😁


11 posted on 01/17/2025 2:50:09 AM PST by tired&retired (Blessings )
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To: ConservativeMind

Pantothenate is known to curb blood sugar response to stress, physical or mental. And stress can cause sugar cravings. So using pantothenate to reduce sugar cravings makes sense.

Bacterioides seems to be good for a lot of stuff.


12 posted on 01/17/2025 3:52:29 AM PST by libertarian66
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To: tired&retired

HAHHAHAHA. Man that is a good one.

In all seriousness, dieting for a lean physique and hard physical training makes a man rock hard, if you catch my drift.


13 posted on 01/17/2025 3:54:18 AM PST by libertarian66
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To: libertarian66

My wife told me to get something to cure my Erectile Dysfunction.

So I did. Her name is Cindy and she is 29. 😁


14 posted on 01/17/2025 3:57:42 AM PST by tired&retired (Blessings )
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To: ConservativeMind

Good to know.


15 posted on 01/17/2025 4:14:17 AM PST by sauropod ("You didn't take a country. You only won a football game!" - Dan Dakich Ne supra crepidam)
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To: tired&retired

Go to your room! You are SO grounded.


16 posted on 01/17/2025 7:12:05 AM PST by Freedom4US
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To: ConservativeMind

Thank you for your reply. Much appreciated and I will read more about this.


17 posted on 01/17/2025 12:24:01 PM PST by Trumpette1954 (Live laugh love!cper)
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To: ConservativeMind

People with intense sugar cravings can sometimes be vulnerable to alcoholism, such as Irish or Native American-descended people. In cases where someone does not drink alcohol for religious or ethical reasons (such as myself, raised by teetotalers), they may still have the alcoholism gene, and will “use” sugar as their adrenaline-stimulating drug of choice.

I could stand to be healthier and lose a few pounds in a natural way by taking the proper water-soluble vitamins for whatever is chemically responsible for my intractable sweet tooth. Thanks for this post. This advice is well worth trying.


18 posted on 01/17/2025 5:11:47 PM PST by Albion Wilde (“Did you ever meet a woke person that’s happy? There’s no such thing.” —Donald J. Trump)
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To: ConservativeMind

4 am


19 posted on 01/20/2025 11:11:57 PM PST by Tunehead54 (Nothing funny here ;-)
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