Research Grants Program 2022

Blocking intestinal sweet taste for better glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes. 

The gut is essential in controlling how fast the glucose we ingest is absorbed into our bloodstream, and its subsequent metabolism within the body. Richard’s team, based at The University of Adelaide, have discovered that the gut detects and responds to sweet in a similar manner to the tongue. This gut ‘sweet taste system’ is essential in the control of glucose absorption.

Blocking the gut ‘sweet taste system’ via a novel sweet taste blocker - lactisole - is likely to improve blood glucose control in people with type 2 diabetes by slowing their glucose absorption, increasing their gut hormone responses, and protecting against deleterious diet-related changes in gut bacteria composition.

We first completed a pilot study in fasted individuals who consumed a novel encapsulated form of paracetamol, where we tracked levels in blood. Paracetamol appeared in blood after only one to four hours, validating that we had slowed its absorption. This encapsulation will now be used in the main study to delay the release of (otherwise) rapidly absorbed lactisole to gut regions that have the greatest sweet sensing capability.

Subject recruitment is now open for the main study, and YOU can be involved!

The main study will require an additional 6-9 months to compare clinical and gut bacteria benefits upon administering lactisole. Once this is completed in 2024, faecal bacteria will be analysed for composition and linkages will be established and compared between health and type 2 diabetes.