Aberrant intestinal microbiota in individuals with prediabetes

Area of Science:

• Microbiome research
• Metabolic health
• Human physiology

Background:

• Type 2 diabetes is associated with changes in the gut microbiota.
• Metformin, a common diabetes drug, is known to alter gut microbial composition and function.
• Understanding the specific microbial signatures associated with prediabetes is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between gut microbiota profiles and prediabetes.
• To identify specific bacterial genera and operational taxonomic units (OTUs) that differ between individuals with and without prediabetes.
• To explore the relationship between gut microbiota and clinical biomarkers of metabolic health.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study was conducted with 134 Danish adults diagnosed with prediabetes and 134 age- and sex-matched controls with normal glucose regulation.
• Gut microbiota composition was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
• Clinical data, including fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia, and low-grade inflammation markers, were collected.

Main Results:

• Five bacterial genera and 36 OTUs were found to be differentially abundant between prediabetes and control groups.
• Prediabetes was characterized by a decreased abundance of the bacterial genus Clostridium and the mucin-degrading bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila.
• Increased abundances of Dorea, Ruminococcus, Sutterella, and Streptococcus genera were observed in individuals with prediabetes.

Conclusions:

• Individuals with prediabetes exhibit an aberrant intestinal microbiota.
• A decreased abundance of Clostridium and Akkermansia muciniphila are key microbial alterations associated with prediabetes.
• These findings align with microbial changes observed in other chronic inflammatory diseases.