Objective: To study the characteristics of the intestinal flora in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and analyze the association between the intestinal flora and clinical indicators.
Methods: We classified 80 subjects into three groups: patients with DPN (n = 45), patients type 2 diabetes without DPN (n = 21), and healthy controls (n = 14). The intestinal flora composition was compared among the three groups, and the correlation between the intestinal flora and clinical indicators was analyzed.
Results: At the phylum level, the richness of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria was elevated in the DN group, and that of Bacteroidetes was decreased. At the genus level, the richness of Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium was significantly decreased in the DPN group, whereas that of Escherichia-Shigella, Lachnoclostridium, Blautia, Megasphaera, and Ruminococcus torques group was increased. The homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index was positively correlated with Megasphaera richness. Glycine ursodeoxycholic acid was positively correlated with Ruminococcus gnavus group and Phascolarctobacterium richness. Tauroursodeoxycholic acid was positively correlated with Ruminococcus gnavus group and Parabacteroides richness.
Conclusion: There was obvious intestinal microbiota disorder in patients with DPN, which may be related to insulin resistance. These changes may have important roles in the development of DPN.
Keywords: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy; bile acids; blood chemistry; gastrointestinal microbiota; insulin resistance; microbial diversity; richness; type 2 diabetes.