Overview

• Canadian researchers linked elevated D-lactate from gut bacteria to excess glucose and fat production in the liver of obese mice and humans with obesity
• The team engineered a safe, biodegradable gut substrate trap polymer that selectively binds D-lactate in the intestine to prevent its uptake into the bloodstream
• Obese mice receiving the polymer experienced lower blood sugar levels, improved insulin sensitivity, and reduced liver inflammation and fibrosis without changing diet or body weight
• Published July 29 in Cell Metabolism, the study uncovers a previously unrecognized microbial branch of the century-old Cori cycle connecting gut bacteria to host metabolism
• Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and supported by patent filings, this approach offers a potential pathway for type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease therapies