Association of short-chain fatty acids and the gut microbiome with type 2 diabetes: Evidence from the Henan Rural Cohort

Tianyu Yang; Cuiping Wu; Yuqian Li; Chongjian Wang; Zhenxing Mao; Wenqian Huo; Jia Li; Yan Li; Wenguo Xing; Linlin Li

doi:10.1016/j.numecd.2024.03.014

Association of short-chain fatty acids and the gut microbiome with type 2 diabetes: Evidence from the Henan Rural Cohort

Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2024 Mar 13:S0939-4753(24)00116-9. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2024.03.014. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Tianyu Yang¹, Cuiping Wu¹, Yuqian Li¹, Chongjian Wang¹, Zhenxing Mao¹, Wenqian Huo¹, Jia Li¹, Yan Li¹, Wenguo Xing¹, Linlin Li²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China.
² Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China. Electronic address: 13623850209@163.com.

PMID: 38653672
DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2024.03.014

Abstract

Background and aims: Human studies about short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the gut microbiome, and Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) are limited. Here we explored the association between SCFAs and T2DM and the effects of gut microbial diversity on glucose status in rural populations.

Methods and results: We performed a cross-sectional study from the Henan Rural Cohort and collected stool samples. Gut microbiota composition and faecal SCFA concentrations were measured by 16S rRNA and GC-MS. The population was divided based on the tertiles of SCFAs, and logistic regression models assessed the relationship between SCFAs and T2DM. Generalized linear models tested the interactions between SCFAs and gut microbial diversity on glucose indicators (glucose, HbAlc and insulin). Compared to the lowest tertile of total SCFA, acetate and butyrate, the highest tertile exhibited lower T2DM prevalence, with ORs and 95% CIs of 0.291 (0.085-0.991), 0.160 (0.044-0.574) and 0.171 (0.047-0.620), respectively. Restricted cubic spline demonstrated an approximately inverse S-shaped association. We also noted interactions of the ACE index with the highest tertile of valerate on glucose levels (P-interaction = 0.022) and the Shannon index with the middle tertile of butyrate on insulin levels (P-interaction = 0.034). Genus Prevotella_9 and Odoribacter were inversely correlated with T2DM, and the genus Blautia was positively associated with T2DM. These bacteria are common SCFA-producing members.

Conclusions: Inverse S-shaped associations between SCFAs (total SCFA, acetate, and butyrate) and T2DM were observed. Valerate and butyrate modify glucose status with increasing gut microbial diversity.

Keywords: Dose-response relationships; Gut microbiome; Interaction; Short chain fatty acid; Type 2 diabetes.

Copyright © 2024 The Italian Diabetes Society, the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis, the Italian Society of Human Nutrition and the Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.