In a nutshell
The aim of this study was to investigate if changes in diet can affect gut bacteria and improve blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes. The main finding of the study was that a shift in diet changes the abundance of different types of gut bacteria, improves blood sugar control and cholesterol levels in these patients.
Some background
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a multi-factorial disease. This means that there are many factors that cause the disease. These include environment, diet, and lifestyle.
Everyone has different types of bacteria living in their gut. These bacteria have many functions such as breaking down carbohydrates that we cannot normally digest. Recently, it has been suggested that an imbalance of the normal gut bacteria (dysbiosis) may be a contributing factor to T2D. It is also thought that this imbalance may cause the presence of toxins in the blood (endotoxemia), leading to inflammation. One of these toxins is called lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Its levels can be measured in the blood. Gut bacteria levels can be measured by measuring bacteria in feces.
Functional foods such as inulin, chia seeds, soy protein dehydrated nopal, omega-3 fatty acids, vegetable protein, polyphenols, and soluble and insoluble fiber, are all known to reestablish the gut bacteria. It is not known whether these functional foods can alter the gut bacteria, decrease blood toxins or improve blood sugar control and cholesterol in T2D.
Methods & findings
This study included 81 patients with T2D divided into two groups. One following a reduced-calorie diet with added functional foods (FF). The other taking a placebo. All patients were also compared to healthy people with no T2D (control group). Diets were followed for 3 months.
Patients with T2D had 33% lower HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) and 54.2 fold increase of LPS than healthy individuals. There was a clear difference in the fecal bacteria of patients with T2D and healthy people.
Patients in the FF group had an 8.7% decrease in blood glucose levels, a 23% decrease in triglycerides (fat cells in the blood), 7.8% reduction in total cholesterol and 9.9% reduction in LDL (bad cholesterol), compared to the placebo group. They also had a 7.2% reduction in Hba1c (a marker of average blood sugar control), a 13% reduction in inflammatory markers and a 5.6% increase in antioxidants. LPS was reduced in both groups. There were significant changes in the gut bacteria of the FF group, with increases in the bacteria that aid carbohydrate digestion.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that functional foods can modify fecal bacteria, that in turn can improve blood sugar control and cholesterol levels while reducing blood toxins
The fine print
Drugs used in the treatment of T2D can also alter gut bacteria. This may have effects on the results of this study.
Published By :
Diabetes & Metabolism
Date :
Sep 25, 2018
