A systematic review has found that probiotics can improve a number of metabolic health markers in people with prediabetes.
Researchers at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (China) have reviewed seven scientific studies conducted with probiotics to assess their effectiveness in treating people with prediabetes. They covered a total of 460 participants, who were split equally between the groups taking probiotics and placebo.
The probiotics in the studies were given in several forms, including capsules, milk, yogurt, powders and sachets. Three of the seven studies focused on a single organism, while the others used three or more probiotics.
The researchers found that probiotic interventions produced important health benefits for prediabetic people, including positive changes in the “quantitative insulin sensitivity check index” (QUICKI), hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), total cholesterol, bad LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.
HOW DO PROBIOTICS WORK?
Scientists explain several mechanisms by which probiotics can produce beneficial metabolic effects:
- Probiotics promote the secretion of “glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1)” by intestinal L cells, which lowers blood sugar levels.
- They improve the function of pancreatic beta cells.
- Reduce chronic inflammation.
- They decrease levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines, which increases insulin sensitivity.
Together, the researchers concluded that probiotics can be used along with other strategies to improve the metabolic health of prediabetic patients.
However, they noted that these conclusions are drawn from a fairly small cohort. In addition, the different modes of administration of probiotics are a limitation to assess their effectiveness. However, they said their conclusion should serve to spur more research among this at-risk population.
“The present study clearly indicated that probiotics may play an important role in regulating values such as HbA1c, QUICKI, cholesterol and triglycerides in patients with prediabetes. In addition, based on existing studies, we conclude that probiotics can regulate blood glucose homeostasis in several ways.”
The research has been published in the Journal of Translational Medicine.
WHAT PROBIOTICS WERE USED?
The review determined that probiotics can restore gut flora homeostasis and regulate blood glucose homeostasis by improving gut flora composition, promoting the proliferation of beneficial strains, and reducing the abundance of harmful strains.
For example, after taking probiotics (lactobacilli and bifidobacteria), populations of Barnesiella spp. and Butyrivibrio crossotus—both of which were implicated in hyperglycemia and insulin resistance—were markedly reduced.
The probiotic Clostridium butyricum CGMCC0313.1 was able to reduce the ratio of Firmicutes to that of Bacteroidetes and increase the abundance of intestinal flora producing butyric acid and the genus Akkermansia.
Taking capsules with a mixture of multiple strains of probiotics for 12 weeks increased the abundance of bacteria producing the beneficial short-chain fatty acids, including Bifidobacterium breve, Akkermansia muciniphila and Clostridium hathewayi.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO PREVENT DIABETES
Diabetes and its complications are among the chronic non-communicable diseases that pose a serious threat to health. Prediabetes includes impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance with elevated blood glucose levels that do not yet meet the diagnostic criteria for diabetes (126 mg/dL –5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L– blood glucose or more).
According to statistics, 70% of patients with prediabetes eventually develop diabetes. In the treatment of prediabetes, improving lifestyle does not always work for all patients, and medications have side effects. That’s why there is a need to use natural and safe strategies to control and slow the progression from prediabetes to diabetes.
If diabetes develops, insulin may need to be taken and the risk of other diseases increases.
Scientific bibliography:
- Li Y, et al. The effects of probiotic administration on patients with prediabetes: a meta-analysis and systematic review. Journal of Translational Medicine.
