Gut microbiome, prebiotics, intestinal permeability and diabetes complications

Matthew Snelson; Cassandra de Pasquale; Elif I Ekinci; Melinda T Coughlan

doi:10.1016/j.beem.2021.101507

Gut microbiome, prebiotics, intestinal permeability and diabetes complications

Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2021 May;35(3):101507. doi: 10.1016/j.beem.2021.101507. Epub 2021 Feb 17.

Authors

Matthew Snelson¹, Cassandra de Pasquale², Elif I Ekinci³, Melinda T Coughlan⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Diabetes, Central Clinical School, Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: matthew.snelson@monash.edu.
² Department of Diabetes, Central Clinical School, Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
³ Department of Endocrinology, Austin Health, Australia; Department of Medicine Austin Health, Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, Australia.
⁴ Department of Diabetes, Central Clinical School, Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia.

PMID: 33642218
DOI: 10.1016/j.beem.2021.101507

Abstract

Diabetes is a metabolic condition. The composition of the gut microbiota is altered in diabetes with reduced levels of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) producers, notably butyrate. Butyrate is associated with a number of beneficial effects including promoting the integrity of the gastrointestinal barrier. Diabetes may lead to an increase in the permeability of the gut barrier, which is thought to contribute to systemic inflammation and worsen the microvascular complications of diabetes. Prebiotics, non-digestible carbohydrates, are fermented by the colonic microbiota leading to the production of a range of metabolites including SCFAs. Thus, prebiotics represent a dietary approach to increase levels of microbially produced SCFAs and improve intestinal permeability in diabetes. Whether prebiotics can lead to a reduction in the risk of developing diabetes complications in individuals with type 2 diabetes needs to be explored.

Keywords: diabetes; diabetic kidney disease; intestinal permeability; prebiotics; short chain fatty acids.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Diabetes Complications*
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2*
Gastrointestinal Microbiome*
Humans
Permeability
Prebiotics

Substances

Prebiotics