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Updated: May 5, 2026
Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity; A Yin and Yang of Cell Senescence
Published on: May 22, 2013
Multistrain Probiotics and Telomere Length in Type 2 Diabetes: A 24-Week Randomized Controlled Trial
Venkata Chaithanya1, Janardanan Kumar2, Kakithakara Vajravelu Leela1
1Department of Microbiology, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, SRMIST, Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu 603203, Tamil Nadu, India.
Background:
This 24-week randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the impact of multistrain probiotic supplementation on telomere length in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The study also assessed secondary outcomes including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c).
Methods:
A total of 124 participants with T2DM were randomly assigned to either a probiotic group (n = 62) or a placebo group (n = 62). Participants in the probiotic group consumed a supplement containing fourteen live microbial strains, including Lactobacillus plantarum, L. fermentum, L. acidophilus, L. casei, L. rhamnosus, L. reuteri, L. salivarius, L. paracasei, L. gasseri, Bifidobacterium bifidum, B. lactis, B. breve, Streptococcus thermophilus, and Saccharomyces boulardii, with each strain providing 2.148 billion CFUs per capsule, totaling 30 billion CFUs. The placebo group received vitamin B12 capsules without probiotics. The primary outcome was telomere length, and secondary outcomes included hs-CRP and HbA1c levels. Data were analyzed using intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) methods.
Results:
The probiotic group exhibited a statistically significant decrease in telomere shortening compared to the placebo group (p < 0.001). The hs-CRP levels decreased more significantly in the probiotic group (p < 0.001), suggesting potential anti-inflammatory effects. The HbA1c levels improved in the probiotic group, with a reduction of 0.44% (p = 0.004). An age-stratified analysis revealed more substantial improvements in the 30-49 years cohort, which showed greater reductions in telomere shortening, inflammatory markers, and metabolic indicators compared to the 50-69 years group.
Conclusions:
Multistrain probiotic supplementation shows potential benefits in reducing telomere shortening and improving glycemic control. However, further long-term studies are needed to understand the underlying mechanisms and therapeutic implications of probiotics in T2DM.
Trial Registration:
This trial was registered at the Clinical Trials Registry-India (CTRI/2023/07/055647).
