A depleted microbiota from an unbalanced diet promotes type 2 diabetes

Diet plays an important role in the composition of intestinal microbiota. Indeed, from the food consumed, the bacteria the intestines produce organic compounds, metabolites, which can have an impact on health if they are present in too much or too little in the body.

Previous studies have shown that changes in the composition of intestinal microbiota and the production of some metabolites can directly affect the development of diabetes type 2. They have, for example, stated that fewer bacteria they produce a fatty acid known to improve sensitivity toinsulin, butyrate, is associated with an increased risk of diabetes.

Conducted by researchers from Inserm, Sorbonne University, AP-HP and Inrae, in collaboration with a Swedish team, other recent work suggests that an alteration of the microbiota intestinal disorders metabolism of the ‘histidine, to amino acid it is found in many foods, resulting in increased levels of a metabolite, imidazole propionate. This molecule is known to make the cells of the body resistant to insulin and to block its action, preventing it from reducing the amounts of sugar in the blood and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.

A study based on the Metacardis cohort

The study published in Nature Communications largely confirms these early results cohort European group that brings together 1,990 participants from France, Germany and Denmark. it’s about Metacardial cohort (Metagenomics in cardiometabolic diseases) led by Inserm, whose goal is to study the impact of changes in the gut microbiota on the appearance and progression of illnesses cardio-metabolic e pathologies Associates.

” Metacardis is a unique and valuable database in the sense that it allows us to access very detailed characteristics about each of the people enrolled in the cohort with numerous phenotypic, metabolic and genetics bacterial “, underlines Karine Clément, doctor, teacher-researcher in nutrition at the Sorbonne University and coordinator of the project.

With her colleagues, the researcher shows that, in the cohort, subjects with pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes actually have higher levels of imidazole propionate in their blood. The intestinal microbiota of these people is also characterized by a significant depletion of bacteria.

The dangers of poor nutrition

Researchers suggest that these alterations in the bacterial composition of the microbiota may be linked to an unbalanced diet. They cause a disturbance in the metabolism of histidine which in turn leads to an increase in imidazole propionate and therefore problems with the regulation of glycemia. There is therefore a greater risk of developing diabetes type 2.

“Our study suggests that people have poor nutrition have an increase in imidazole propionate and that there is a clear association between the depleted composition of the microbiota, food and type 2 diabetes. Aims to pass a message of prevention, underlining that a more varied diet allows to enrich the microbiota. This study also has therapeutic implications as we may consider development in the future drugs by modifying the synthesis of some metabolites including imidazole propionate “, explains Karine Clément.

Several research questions continue to arise and should be clarified in future work based on the Metacardis cohort. Specifically, the researchers want to understand how increases in one or more metabolites can predict in people diabetics, the risk of developing other complications such as cardiovascular problems. They also want to investigate how increasing imidazole propionate levels in people with pre-diabetes can increase their risk of developing diabetes early in their clinical journey.