How Statins May Affect GLP-1 in the Gut (and Why It Matters for Blood Sugar & Metabolism)

Statins are one of the most commonly prescribed medications worldwide, primarily used to lower cholesterol and reduce cardiovascular risk. For many people, they are used as a prevention and treatment for high cholesterol.

But as we continue to learn more about metabolism, gut health, and hormone signaling, it’s become clear that statins can influence more than just cholesterol.

One area receiving increasing attention is their effect on GLP-1, a powerful gut hormone that plays a central role in blood sugar balance, appetite regulation, and metabolic health.

This blog posts is to help explain how this works — and why it matters.

What Is GLP-1?

GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is a hormone released from specialized cells in the small intestine called L-cells in response to food.

GLP-1 helps:

• Stimulate insulin release

• Reduce glucagon (which raises blood sugar)

• Slow gastric emptying

• Increase satiety and fullness

• Improve overall insulin sensitivity

This is why GLP-1 is a major target in modern diabetes and weight-loss medications — but your body is designed to make it naturally when the gut, liver, and metabolic systems are working well.

How Statins May Reduce GLP-1 Signaling

Statins do not directly block GLP-1. Instead, they influence several upstream systems that GLP-1 depends on.

1️⃣ Altered bile acid signaling

Cholesterol is the raw material used to make bile acids. While bile acids are best known for helping digest fat, they also act as metabolic signaling molecules.

Certain bile acids activate receptors in the gut (notably TGR5 and FXR) that:

• Stimulate GLP-1 release

• Improve insulin sensitivity

• Support glucose regulation

Statins reduce cholesterol production, which can:

• Change bile acid composition

• Reduce stimulation of these GLP-1-activating receptors

• Result in lower GLP-1 secretion

2️⃣ Changes in the gut microbiome

Statins are consistently shown to alter gut bacteria — sometimes beneficially, sometimes not.

One key issue:

• Certain gut bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate and propionate

• SCFAs strongly stimulate GLP-1 release

When statins reduce SCFA-producing bacteria, GLP-1 signaling can weaken.

This helps explain why statins are associated with:

• Higher fasting glucose

• Increased risk of insulin resistance

• A small but measurable increase in type 2 diabetes risk

3️⃣ Mitochondrial and energy effects

Statins reduce production of CoQ10, a compound essential for mitochondrial energy production.

Why this matters:

• GLP-1 secretion is an energy-dependent process

• Gut hormone-producing cells require adequate mitochondrial function

Lower cellular energy can mean less efficient hormone release, including GLP-1.

4️⃣ Reduced insulin sensitivity feeds the cycle

In some individuals, statins increase insulin resistance in muscle and liver tissue.

When insulin sensitivity drops:

• GLP-1 signaling becomes less effective

• The body may produce less GLP-1

• Tissues respond less to the GLP-1 that is available

This creates a metabolic feedback loop that can worsen blood sugar control over time.

Why This Matters…

Reduced GLP-1 activity may show up as:

• Increased hunger or cravings

• Difficulty losing weight

• Rising fasting glucose or A1c

• Feeling like metabolism is “working against you”

  
  

This is one reason many people are now prescribed GLP-1 medications alongside statins — they help replace a pathway that may be underperforming.

A Balanced Perspective

This is NOT about fear-mongering or stopping medications without guidance.

Statins are appropriate and necessary for many people

However, understanding their metabolic ripple effects allows us to:

• Support gut health proactively

• Monitor blood sugar markers more closely (and have the right ones checked!)

• Personalize nutrition, lifestyle, and supplementation

Supporting GLP-1 Naturally (Alongside Medical Care)

From a functional nutrition perspective, supporting GLP-1 includes:

• Adequate protein at meals

• Fiber diversity to support SCFA production

• Bitter foods and digestive support

• Optimizing bile flow

• Addressing insulin resistance early

• Supporting mitochondrial health

These strategies can be especially important for individuals on statins who notice changes in blood sugar, appetite, or weight.

Statins don’t directly suppress GLP-1 — but they can influence the gut-liver-metabolism axis that regulates it.

Understanding this connection helps explain why:

• Blood sugar may rise after starting statins

• Appetite and weight can become harder to manage

• Gut health support matters more than ever

As always, the goal isn’t to remove tools — it’s to use them wisely and support the body as a whole.

If you’ve been on a statin and are starting to notice changes in your digestion, blood sugar, energy, muscle strength, or overall metabolic health — you’re not imagining it.

Many of these symptoms are often treated in isolation and rarely traced back to how statins can impact gut health, nutrient status, insulin sensitivity, and hormone signaling over time.

If you’re wondering whether your medication could be contributing to symptoms you’ve never connected before — or if you want to understand how to better support your body while on a statin — I’m here to help.

I work with clients to look at the full picture: gut health, blood sugar regulation, nutrient depletion, inflammation, and metabolic resilience — so we can support your health without guesswork.

👉 If this resonates, book a free 15-minute consult to see if functional testing and personalized support are the right next step for you.

Your body is always communicating — sometimes we just need the right framework to listen.