Efficacy of probiotic co-supplementation with omega-3 PUFAs on pancreatic beta-cell function in type 2 diabetes

The current understanding of the beneficial effects of probiotics in type 2 diabetes (T2D) relies on both animal and clinical data, which focus mainly on their impact on insulin resistance. The use of high-dose omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) therapy has been well tolerated in pilot trials and could have a positive effect on the maintenance of β-cell function before and after T1D onset. This study evaluated the effectiveness of live multistrain probiotic co-supplementation with omega-3 PUFAs vs. placebo on β-cell function in T2D patients. We conducted a secondary analysis of a previously published RCT (NCT04201938, NCT03528707) with a total of 45 patients with T2D. The main inclusion criteria were the presence of β-cell dysfunction (%B < 50%) and insulin therapy alone or in combination with oral antidiabetic drugs. In the placebo group, all parameters changed insignificantly after treatment. Compared with the baseline value, supplementation with live multiprobiotic and omega-3 PUFAs was associated with marginally significant improvement in β-cell function (%B increased from 42.2 ± 15.4 to 62.21 ± 33.98; р=0.049). However, in the adjusted ANCOVA, a lack of significant differences compared with the placebo was detected. In the secondary outcome analysis, significant reductions in fasting plasma glucose, TNF-α levels, and anthropometric parameters, as well as improvements in insulin sensitivity, were noted.