Causal relationship between gut microbiota and diabetic complications: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Area of Science:

• Microbiome research
• Genetics
• Diabetes complications

Background:

• Gut microbiota (GM) imbalances are implicated in diabetic complications.
• The precise causal role of GM in diabetes complications is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the causal relationship between gut microbial taxa and diabetic complications.
• To explore the mediating effects of risk factors on the GM-diabetes complication association.

Main Methods:

• Utilized genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data for 196 gut microbial taxa.
• Employed mediation Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to assess causal links.
• Examined associations with diabetic kidney disease (DKD), ketoacidosis, and diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Main Results:

• Negative associations observed between Bifidobacterial order and Actinomycete phylum with DKD in type 1 diabetes (T1D).
• Positive associations found between these taxa and ketoacidosis in type 2 diabetes (T2D).
• Diabetic retinopathy (DR) and ketoacidosis in T2D influenced the abundance of Eubacterium fissicaten and Lachnospiraceae UCG010.

Conclusions:

• Provided evidence for causal relationships between specific gut microbiota taxa and diabetes complications.
• Findings offer insights for developing targeted treatments for diabetes complications.