Is gut microbiota composition linked to type 2 diabetes?

There is a significant association between changes in gut microbiota composition and type 2 diabetes (T2D), according to a study that found individuals with T2D appear to have higher levels of certain bacteria (Bacteroides and Bacteroidetes) compared to healthy individuals.

A case-control study including18 patients with T2D and 18 healthy controls was conducted to analyze differences in intestinal microbiota.

Fecal samples were examined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction to profile gut bacteria. Individuals with T2D exhibited significantly higher levels of the genus Bacteroides and the phylum Bacteroidetes (P = 0.03 and P < 0.001, respectively). In contrast, healthy controls had a greater abundance of the Actinobacteria and Firmicutes phyla (P = 0.01 for both).

No notable differences were found in other bacterial populations, including Enterococcus and Clostridium clusters.

“These findings may be valuable for developing strategies to control or treatment T2D by restoring the intestinal microbiota through the strategic administration of specific probiotics/prebiotics and lifestyle and dietary modifications,” the study authors concluded.

Reference
Razavi S, Amirmozafari N, Zahedi Bialvaei A, et al. Gut microbiota composition and type 2 diabetes: Are these subjects linked Together? Heliyon. 2024;10(20):e39464. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e39464. PMID: 39469674; PMCID: PMC11513563.