Rebalancing the Gut: Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Agonists as a Strategy for Obesity and Metabolic Health

Obesity significantly impacts gut microbial composition, exacerbating metabolic dysfunction and weight gain. Traditional treatment methods often fall short, underscoring the need for innovative approaches. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists have emerged as promising agents in obesity managemen...

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Published in:Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) CA), 2024-07, Vol.16 (7), p.e64738
Main Authors: Singh, Kanwarmandeep, Aulakh, Smriti K, Nijjar, Gurkamal Singh, Singh, Sumerjit, Sandhu, Ajay Pal Singh, Luthra, Shivansh, Tanvir, Fnu, Kaur, Yasmeen, Singla, Abhinandan, Kaur, Meet Sirjana
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Appetite
Bacteria
Cardiovascular disease
Chronic illnesses
Cytokines
Diabetes
Energy
Gastrointestinal surgery
GLP-1 receptor agonists
Glucagon
Glucose
Hormones
Inflammation
Metabolism
Microbiota
Obesity
Overweight
Polypeptides
Proteins
Weight control
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Summary:Obesity significantly impacts gut microbial composition, exacerbating metabolic dysfunction and weight gain. Traditional treatment methods often fall short, underscoring the need for innovative approaches. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists have emerged as promising agents in obesity management, demonstrating significant potential in modulating gut microbiota. These agents promote beneficial bacterial populations, such as , , , while reducing harmful species like . By influencing gut microbiota composition, GLP-1 agonists enhance gut barrier integrity, reducing permeability and systemic inflammation, which are hallmarks of metabolic dysfunction in obesity. Additionally, GLP-1 agonists improve metabolic functions by increasing the production of short-chain fatty acids like butyrate, propionate, and acetate, which serve as energy sources for colonocytes, modulate immune responses, and enhance the production of gut hormones that regulate appetite and glucose homeostasis. By increasing microbial diversity, GLP-1 agonists create a more resilient gut microbiome capable of resisting pathogenic invasions and maintaining metabolic balance. Thus, by shifting the gut microbiota toward a healthier profile, GLP-1 agonists help disrupt the vicious cycle of obesity-induced gut dysbiosis and inflammation. This review highlights the intricate relationship between obesity, gut microbiota, and GLP-1 agonists, providing valuable insights into their combined role in effective obesity treatment and metabolic health enhancement.
ISSN:2168-8184
2168-8184
DOI:10.7759/cureus.64738