GLP-1 agonists and the gut microbiome
Naturopath Wendy Burke brings a research-driven, patient-centred perspective to GLP-1 care. Join her to explore what the current science on GLP-1 receptor agonists and the gut microbiome means for the patients you support.
GLP-1 receptor agonists have rapidly become one of the most widely prescribed therapeutic classes in clinical practice, yet the relationship between these medications and the gut microbiome remains underexplored in everyday clinical conversations. This session examines the two-way interaction between endogenous enteroendocrine hormones, the gut microbiome, and GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy, and what this means for patient care.
Starting with the fundamentals of enteroendocrine signalling, the session explores how the gut microbiome influences hormone function, before turning to how GLP-1 receptor agonists work and what current research reveals about their impact on microbiome composition. Through a series of clinical case studies, including patients with inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disease history, and varying response profiles, practitioners will see how microbiome data can help explain treatment response, and where it may inform clinical decision-making.
The session closes by bringing the research and case findings together into practical takeaways for practitioners supporting patients considering, or already undertaking, GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy.
Learning objectives
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Describe the role of endogenous enteroendocrine hormones, including GLP-1, in metabolic and gut function.
- Explain how the gut microbiome influences enteroendocrine hormone signalling and function.
- Summarise the mechanism of action of GLP-1 receptor agonist medications and the current evidence on their impact on gut microbiome composition.
- Interpret case-based microbiome data across treatment timelines (baseline, three months, and seven-to-nine months) in patients undergoing GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy.
- Identify how gut microbiome status may contribute to variable or slow response to GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy, including in patients with comorbidities such as inflammatory bowel disease or cardiovascular disease, or those on concurrent PPI therapy.
- Apply current research and case insights to support clinical decision-making for patients considering or undergoing GLP-1 receptor agonist treatment.
