The liver is a key at maintaining glucose and lipid homeostasis, crucial processes for metabolic health. When these processes are disrupted, a series of metabolic disorders may occur, including type 2 diabetes and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).

A Korean study led by Seoul National University scientists is the first to demonstrate that the human intestinal mucin-degrading bacterium, Akkermansia muciniphila, secretes a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)-inducing protein, which significantly improved glucose homeostasis and ameliorated metabolic disease in mice.