Role of Gut Microbiota in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Its Complications: Novel Insights and Potential Intervention Strategies

• Main Authors: Birhanu Woldeamlak, Ketsela Yirdaw, Belete Biadgo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Jin Publishing & Printing Co. 2019-12-01
• Series: The Korean Journal of Gastroenterology
• Subjects: gastrointestinal microbiome; type 2 diabetes mellitus
• Online Access: http://www.kjg.or.kr/journal/view.html?uid=5522&vmd=Full

Type 2 diabetes mellitus has become one of the fastest growing public health problems worldwide. The disease is believed to involve a complex process involving genetic susceptibility and environmental factors. The human intestine harbors hundreds of trillions of bacteria, as well as bacteriophage particles, viruses, fungi, and archaea, which constitute a complex and dynamic ecosystem referred to as the gut microbiota. Increasing evidence has indicated changes in the gut microbiota composition or function in type 2 diabetic patients. An analysis of ‘dysbiosis’ enables the detection of alterations in the specific bacteria, clusters of bacteria, or bacterial functions associated with the occurrence of type 2 diabetes. These bacteria are involved predominantly in the control of inflammation and energy homeostasis. This review attempts to show that the gut microbiota are important factors for the occurrence of type 2 diabetes and are important for the treatment of gut microbiota dysbiosis through bariatric surgery, fecal microbiota transplantation, prebiotics, and probiotics.