Researchers Discover Gut Molecule That Powerfully Fights Diabetes - Video

What if a molecule made by your gut could help protect you from diabetes? A global team of researchers led by scientists from Imperial College London, the University of Louvain, and the University of Ottawa has uncovered a surprising gut-microbe compound that does just that. Published in Nature Metabolism, the study reveals that trimethylamine (TMA)-a byproduct of gut bacteria breaking down a nutrient called choline-can switch off a key inflammation trigger, helping the body maintain healthier blood sugar levels.

Type 2 diabetes, one of the world’s fastest-growing health burdens, is primarily driven by insulin resistance-a condition in which the body’s cells stop responding properly to insulin. Beyond diet and lifestyle, scientists have discovered that chronic inflammation plays a major role in this process. Two decades ago, Professor Patrice Cani’s early research suggested that high-fat diets disrupt gut integrity, allowing bacterial components to leak into the bloodstream and spark immune inflammation. This immune-driven inflammation, in turn, damages insulin sensitivity—a theory now widely accepted.

To decode how this process could be interrupted, researchers explored the role of TMA, a microbial molecule produced when gut bacteria digest choline-rich foods like eggs and fish. Using human cell cultures, gene editing, and animal models, the team found that TMA directly interacts with a protein called IRAK4, which normally triggers inflammation when the body senses dietary imbalances. In high-fat conditions, this pathway becomes overactivated, leading to chronic inflammation and insulin resistance. But TMA was able to bind to IRAK4, reducing its activity, lowering inflammatory responses, and restoring normal insulin signaling.

Interestingly, the same protective effect was seen when IRAK4 was removed or chemically inhibited—suggesting TMA works through a target already known in drug development. The molecule even prevented sepsis-induced death in mice by calming runaway immune responses.

“This turns the story around,” said lead researcher Professor Marc-Emmanuel Dumas. “Instead of microbes harming us, one of their molecules actually shields us from diet-induced inflammation.” As diabetes affects over 500 million people worldwide, the discovery opens up new possibilities where nutrition, gut health, and microbial science converge to prevent metabolic disease naturally.

REFERENCE: Université catholique de Louvain. "Gut molecule shows remarkable anti-diabetes power." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 8 December 2025.