Metabolic & Cardiometabolic · Gut & Microbiome
Does a gut bile-acid sensor turn down the appetite hormone?
The claim, precisely: intestinal FXR activation suppresses GLP-1
Strong support Metabolic & Cardiometabolic 🐭 Non-human evidence
RefutedContestedStrong support
consensus score 1.00
Yes — but only shown in animals and the lab so far.
Evidence ladder
How far up the ladder this claim has climbed. A high consensus on a low rung means "consistent so far," not "proven in people."
Top evidence so far: Animal studies (Animal)
MechanismIn-vitroAnimalObservationalRCTMeta-analysis
How the studies fall
8 support 0 contradict 0 tested null 0 mixed · 6 sources, 6 independent groups
What the evidence shows
FXR activation represses proglucagon and blunts SCFA-induced GLP-1 (downregulates FFAR2) — the opposing brake to TGR5. Implies BA-binding dietary fiber (lowering luminal FXR tone) could synergize with SCFA production. Animal/cell-grade.
The evidence (8)
| Source | Grade | Stance | Quality | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Li 2024 · Gut Microbes | animal | supports | moderate | Bacterial GUS-driven bile-acid rise activated ileal FXR and suppressed L-cell GLP-1 |
| Trabelsi MS, et al. 2015 · Nat Commun | animal | supports | high | Landmark FXR in L-cells represses proglucagon+GLP-1; FXR-KO raises GLP-1 (in-vitro+mouse) |
| Ducastel S, et al. 2020 · Sci Rep | animal | supports | high | FXR blunts SCFA-induced GLP-1 by lowering FFAR2 (colonoids+L-cells+mice); FXR-KO raises FFAR2+GLP-1 |
| Yun 2024 · Nat Metab | animal | supports | high | [FT-verified] Yun 2024 NatMetab microbial agmatine FXR agonist promoting PCOS mice; confirms FXR-axis. ANIMAL |
| Trabelsi MS, et al. 2015 · Nat Commun | animal | supports | high | FXR-KO raised GLP-1 & improved glucose; colesevelam raised proglucagon FXR-dependently |
| Stefela 2025 · Pharmacol Res | animal | supports | moderate | FXR antagonist enhanced GLP-1 secretion and improved glucose metabolism in Western-diet mice |
| Niss 2020 · Mol Cell Endocrinol | in-vitro | supports | moderate | [FT-verified] Niss 2020 GLUTag L-cell active FXR represses GLP-1 secretion |
| Ducastel S, et al. 2020 · Sci Rep | animal | supports | moderate | FXR-KO raised colonic FFAR2 & plasma GLP-1 on SCFA; GW4064 blunted it |
Educational only, not medical advice. Grades and scores reflect published evidence weighted by study design and quality; see the methodology.