Beyond Digestion: The Gastrointestinal Tract at the Centre of Metabolic Regulation
Traditionally, gastrointestinal (GI) and metabolic disease have been considered separate clinical entities with the GI tract viewed primarily as a conduit for digestion and nutrient absorption, while the metabolic regulation was largely attributed to the liver, pancreas, and adipose tissue. Recent evidence, has challenged this distinction and has demonstrated that the intestine functions as a major endocrine, immune, and metabolic organ playing a key role in metabolic health. The emergence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), the success of incretin-based therapies, and the metabolic benefits of bariatric interventions highlight the increasingly interconnected nature of gastrointestinal and metabolic health. In this perspective, we propose a gut–metabolic network framework in which the intestine serves as a central integrator linking the metabolic system together. This framework extends beyond the conventional gut–liver axis and helps explain the multisystem effects of contemporary therapies. We discuss key mechanistic pathways, therapeutic convergence between gastroenterology and metabolic medicine, and important gaps in current clinical practice, including limited metabolic phenotyping and fragmented care models. Recognizing the gut as a central regulator of metabolic health may enable more integrated approaches to patient care, research, and training, and better align clinical practice with evolving biological understanding.