A New Connection: Gut Bacteria May Play a Role in Diabetes
By Cedars-Sinai
An ongoing study led by Cedars-Sinai has demonstrated that certain gut bacteria may increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes while others may provide protection against it. These are early results from a prospective study.
According to the study, which was published in the journal Diabetes, higher levels of the bacterium Coprococcus are associated with improved insulin sensitivity, while higher levels of Flavonifractor in the gut microbiome are linked to decreased insulin sensitivity.
For years, investigators have sought to understand why people develop diabetes by studying the composition of the microbiome, which is a collection of microorganisms that include fungi, bacteria, and viruses that live in the digestive tract. The microbiome is thought to be affected by medications and diet. Studies have also found that people who don’t process insulin properly have lower levels of a certain type of bacteria that produces a type of fatty acid called butyrate.
