Background: Recent studies have highlighted the relationship between gut microbiota and bowel movements.
Objective: We aimed to evaluate transglucosidase treatment efficacy for bowel movements in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to clarify the relationship between bowel movements, dietary habits, gut microbiota and fecal short-chain fatty acids.
Methods: In this randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 66 patients received placebo or transglucosidase (300 or 900 mg/day) orally, for 12 weeks. Fecal bacterial communities and short-chain fatty acids were analyzed before and after the treatment.
Results: Transglucosidase treatment significantly (p < 0.05) affected fecal microbiota (Prevotella spp., Bacteroides spp., Bifidobacterium spp., and Clostridium subcluster XIVa) and fecal short-chain fatty acid (acetate, valerate, succinate and lactate) content. Clostridium cluster IV, Clostridium subcluster XIVa, Clostridium cluster XVIII and fecal pH increased significantly and order Lactobacillales decreased in patients with bowel movement disorder compared with controls. Transglucosidase treatment significantly improved bowel movements compared with placebo treatment (46.2%, 95% confidence interval: 19.2-74.9% vs. 0%, 95% confidence interval: 0-33.6%, p < 0.05). This effect was not observed in patients without bowel movement disorder.
Conclusion: Patients with bowel movement disorder suffer from gut dysbiosis. Transglucosidase treatment alleviates bowel movement disorder symptoms in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients by increasing fecal acetate level.
Keywords: Transglucosidase; bowel movements; constipation; intestinal microbiota; short-chain fatty acids; type 2 diabetes mellitus.