There is a cure for sugar addiction! Mouse experiments + human studies offer new hope for a cure for diabetes

As living standards improve, people's pursuit of sweet foods becomes stronger. However, a large number of studies have confirmed that excessive sugar intake is the culprit for diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. In order to explore the regulatory mechanism of sugar preference, a research team from Wuxi Medical College of Jiangnan University and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences conducted a study on the relationship between sugar preference and diabetes. This article aims to popularize the results of this study to help the public better understand the impact of sugar preference on health and how to scientifically adjust the diet structure.

Research process and findings

In this study, the researchers screened 60 patients with type 2 diabetes and the same number of healthy people as research subjects, aiming to further explore the connection between the Ffar4 receptor and sugar preference. In order to obtain more comprehensive data, the research was not limited to human subjects, but also involved experimental studies on mice. The researchers used a variety of research methods, including analysis of the participants' peripheral blood, experimental operations on mice, and in-depth mining of the whole genome association study database. At the same time, the researchers conducted a detailed comparative analysis of the fecal microbiota of diabetic mouse models and patients, a process that ultimately helped them identify a specific species affected by the Ffar4 receptor-common Bacteroides. This discovery provides important clues for understanding the role of the Ffar4 receptor in sugar metabolism and the formation of sugar preference, and provides new thinking directions for future treatment strategies.

The study found that people with Ffar4 receptor mutations generally have higher sugar intake and a stronger pursuit of sweetness. They are more inclined to choose sweet chocolate, candy, and even sweet tea. This phenomenon suggests that abnormal function of the Ffar4 receptor may be a key factor leading to sugar preference behavior.

Through the study of mouse models, it was further found that when the Ffar4 receptor was knocked out, the abundance of common Bacteroides in mice was significantly reduced; conversely, when the expression of the Ffar4 receptor was overexpressed, the abundance of common Bacteroides increased. This discovery reveals the interaction between common Bacteroides and the Ffar4 receptor. More importantly, giving mice oral administration of common Bacteroides can significantly reduce the mice's sugar preference, confirming the key role of common Bacteroides in regulating sugar preference.

So, how does Bacteroides vulgaris affect sugar preference? Studies have shown that pantothenate, a metabolite of Bacteroides vulgaris, is a key substance in this process. Pantothenate can stimulate the secretion of the intestinal hormone GLP-1, which is an important metabolic regulatory hormone that plays an important role in sugar metabolism and appetite regulation. Increased secretion of GLP-1 further regulates the release of FGF21 in the liver. FGF21 is a hormone that can inhibit sugar preference through the ventromedial hypothalamus (a key area in the brain that regulates appetite and energy balance). The action of FGF21 effectively inhibits the mice's preference for sugar.

Future prospects for research

1. Probiotic therapy: Research results show that Bacteroides vulgaris and its metabolite pantothenate may be used to treat diabetes. In the future, probiotic therapy is expected to become a new way to prevent and treat diabetes.

2. Ffar4 targeted drugs: Regulating Ffar4 is expected to become a quick way to prevent diabetes. Researchers can further develop drugs targeting the Ffar4 receptor to reduce sugar preference and improve the quality of life of diabetic patients.

How to prevent and control diabetes

According to the recommendation of the National Health Commission, people who control their blood sugar can choose foods with a low glycemic index (GI). These foods have a small impact on blood sugar and help control blood sugar after a meal. However, even low-GI foods should be consumed in moderation to avoid increasing the burden on blood sugar after a meal. GI≤55 is a low-GI food; 55＜GI≤70 is a medium-GI food; GI＞70 is a high-GI food. The GI classification table of various foods is shown in the table below.

Through this popular science, we aim to deepen everyone's understanding of the relationship between sugar preference and health, and guide everyone on how to scientifically adjust their eating patterns to effectively reduce the risk of diabetes. We hope that everyone can be inspired by this and take practical actions to maintain their health through a reasonable diet and healthy lifestyle. While enjoying delicious food, we hope that you can also maintain a good blood sugar level and prevent the occurrence of diabetes!

References:

Zhang, T., Wang, W., Li, J. et al. Free fatty acid receptor 4 modulates dietary sugar preference via the gut microbiota. Nat Microbiol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-024-01902-8