Gut microbiome in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A literature review

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a complex metabolic disorder influenced by genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Emerging evidence highlights the crucial role of the gut microbiota (GM) in the pathophysiology of T2DM, with alterations in microbial diversity and composition contributing to insulin resistance, systemic inflammation, and metabolic dysregulation. This review explores the current literature on the role of the GM, its metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bile acids (BAs), and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), as well as the impact of diet and body mass index (BMI) on the progression of T2DM. We examine how dietary patterns, including fiber intake, fat composition, and the use of prebiotics and probiotics, modulate the GM. Furthermore, we analyze evidence regarding the influence of the microbiome on host metabolism, gut permeability, and the pathophysiology of T2DM. Understanding the dynamic interactions among the GM, microbial metabolites, diet, and BMI may provide promising avenues for the development of personalized therapeutic strategies targeting microbiome-mediated mechanisms in the prevention and management of T2DM. Such approaches may facilitate more effective patient-centered interventions.