The Gut-Hormone Connection: How Beta-Glucan Helps You Feel Full and Stay in Control

The gut-hormone axis refers to the relationship between the gastrointestinal tract, its and its specialized hormone-secreting special cells, and the central nervous system, which together regulate hunger, satiety, digestion, and energy.

Key gut hormones include ghrelin (stimulates appetite), cholecystokinin (CCK), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), peptide YY (PYY), (all suppress appetite). These hormones act by regulating other glands to release hormones. These hormones in turn can affect neural pathways, notably the vagus nerve, to influence hypothalamic and brainstem centers controlling feeding behavior.

Diet strongly influences gut hormone secretion and thus modulates hormone levels and cravings.

Macronutrient composition is critical: protein and fat-rich meals robustly stimulate satiety hormones (CCK, GLP-1, PYY), while carbohydrate intake has a more variable effect. Ghrelin rises during fasting and is suppressed by food intake, particularly by protein and fat. The friendly bacteria that live in our gut literally feed on dietary soluble fiber and then produce metabolites (e.g., short-chain fatty acids) that further modulate gut cell function and hormone release, impacting appetite and cravings.

Highly processed foods or energy-dense diets (high in sugar and fat, low in fiber), on the other hand, can disrupt the microbiome-gut-brain axis, leading to altered hormone profiles, increased reward-driven eating, and dysregulated satiety signaling, thereby promoting cravings and overeating.

Clinical evidence indicates that dietary interventions involving beta glucan acutely modulate gut hormone profiles and appetite regulation in humans.

Intake of 5 g oat beta glucan at breakfast has been shown to slow transit time through the small intestine, decrease appetite by decreasing ghrelin levels after eating and reduce subjective appetite scores.

There is also evidence that beta glucan fermentation by gut microbiota produces short-chain fatty acids, which may further influence gut hormone secretion, particularly GLP-1.

Overall, acute beta glucan intake reduces appetite and modulates gut hormone profiles, primarily by lowering ghrelin with secondary benefits for postprandial glycemia and satiety. The clinical impact on long-term weight regulation and microbiota composition requires further investigation in larger and longer-duration studies

In summary, the gut-hormone axis integrates dietary signals, microbial metabolites, and neural inputs to finely regulate hunger, satiety, and food cravings.

-Dr. Diana Rucker

References:

1. The Emerging Role of Gut Hormones. Cho H, Lim J. Molecules and Cells. 2024;47(11):100126. 2. From Gut to Brain: The Roles of Intestinal Microbiota, Immune System, and Hormones in Intestinal Physiology and Gut-Brain-Axis. Khan MT, Zohair M, Khan A, et al. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. 2025;607:112599. 3. Modulation of Postprandial Plasma Concentrations of Digestive Hormones and Gut Microbiota by Foods Containing Oat SS-Glucans in Healthy Volunteers. Gotteland M, Zazueta A, Pino JL, et al. Foods (Basel, Switzerland). 2023;12(4):700. 4. Interaction of Beta-Glucans With Gut Microbiota: Dietary Origins, Structures, Degradation, Metabolism, and Beneficial Function. Yu L, Gao Y, Ye Z, et al. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 2024;64(27):9884-9909.