Early findings from an ongoing prospective trial headed by researchers at Cedars-Sinai suggest that one type of gut bacteria may aid in the development of Type 2 diabetes while an other type may shield against it.
One type of gut bacteria may promote the onset of Type 2 diabetes, but an another type may protect against it, according to preliminary results from an ongoing prospective experiment conducted by Cedars-Sinai researchers.
A study that was published in the peer-reviewed journal Diabetes found that individuals with higher levels of the bacterium Coprococcus in their microbiomes tended to have higher insulin sensitivity, while individuals with higher levels of the bacterium Flavonifractor in their microbiomes tended to have lower insulin sensitivity.
Researchers have been examining the microbiome, a group of microorganisms that includes fungus, bacteria, and viruses that lives in the digestive system, for years in an effort to understand why people get diabetes. Diet and drugs are known to have an impact on the microbiota. Additionally, studies have shown that individuals with improper insulin processing have fewer numbers of a particular type of bacteria that generates a fatty acid called butyrate.
An ongoing investigation of patients at risk for diabetes is being led by Mark Goodarzi, MD, PhD, head of the Endocrine Genetics Laboratory at Cedars-Sinai, to determine if those with lower levels of these bacteria go on to acquire the condition.
