Research
Hormonal
Bile acids, specifically secondary bile acids like ursodeoxycholate (UDCA) and lithocholate (LCA), and the activation of the TGR5 receptor, contribute to metabolic improvements and weight loss by stimulating GLP-1 release and increasing adipose tissue thermogenesis.
Dietary changes that alter bile acid metabolism, such as those seen with specific fiber intakes or weight loss itself, can positively impact metabolic health. While direct bile acid supplementation is complex, maintaining a healthy gut microbiome supports the natural production of beneficial secondary bile acids.
ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
mice that had improvements in metabolic markers, such as weight, after Parabacateroides distasonis administration that elevated UDCA and LCA... TGR5-stimulated release of GLP-1, and receptor activation likely plays a role in both peripherally-mediated metabolic and centrally-mediated eating/behavioral mechanisms influencing obesity.
Why this rating
Evidence is primarily from mouse models; human clinical applications are still emerging.
Source
Leveraging the Microbiome for Obesity: Moving From Form to Function
Anna H. Lee et al. · Frontiers in Endocrinology · 2022
DOI 10.3389/fendo.2022.918923
narrative_reviewCited 2×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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