Research

Hormonal

Bile acids, particularly lithocholic acid and hyocholic acid, improve glucose tolerance by activating the GPCR GPBAR1 (TGR5) on enteroendocrine cells, leading to increased GLP-1 secretion and insulin release.

Bile acids play a crucial role in glucose regulation by activating the GPBAR1 receptor, which stimulates the release of GLP-1 and insulin. This effect is particularly pronounced after meals containing fats and cholesterol, as bile acid levels rise. Post-bariatric surgery patients often experience improved glucose tolerance due to increased circulating bile acids. Maintaining a healthy gut microbiome may also influence bile acid composition and effectiveness.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Mechanistically, hyocholic acid enhanced GLP-1 secretion by enteroendocrine cells through simultaneous activation of GPBAR1 and inhibition of FXR, leading to improved glucose tolerance... lithocholic acid and synthetic GPBAR1 agonists improved glucose tolerance in mice through increases in GLP-1 and insulin release.
Antwi‐Boasiako Oteng et al. · Frontiers in Endocrinology · 2023

Why this rating

Supported by in vivo mouse studies, human cell line data, and clinical observations of bile acid levels post-bariatric surgery.

Source

GPCR-mediated effects of fatty acids and bile acids on glucose homeostasis

Antwi‐Boasiako Oteng et al. · Frontiers in Endocrinology · 2023

DOI 10.3389/fendo.2023.1206063

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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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