Changes in Gut May Cause Diabetes, Harvard Says

type 2 diabetes affects millions of people worldwide and is characterized by a gradual loss of the ability to regularize blood sugar level.

Over the past decade, several studies have demonstrated a relationship between changes in gut microbiome and development type 2 diabetes. The problem is that previous studies were too small and too varied in design to draw firm conclusions.

Nevertheless, recent training greater dimension and depth from an ethnic and geographical point of view, has provided new evidence of the connection between gut microbiome And type 2 diabetesprediabetes and optimal blood sugar range.

What conclusions does it postulate? Harvard researchers and this opens up new hope for preventing this chronic illness.

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Harvard experts have identified changes in the intestines that can lead to diabetes

The study, published in Natural medicinewas conducted by experts from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the Broad Institute of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, and the Harvard T.H. School of Public Health. T.Ch. Chana.

The study used the latest data from the Microbiome and Cardiometabolic Disease Consortium (MicroCardio). In particular, a total of 8117 gut microbiome metagenomes relevant to participants of different nationalities and geographic regions.

Among the study participants were people with type 2 diabetes mellitus, prediabetes or no change in blood levels blood sugar content; And when developing it, the researchers were guided by two key questions:

• What are the functions species and strains What makes up the gut microbiome in type 2 diabetes?

• What are they doing microbeYes?

Answering these questions, Fenglei Wangco-author and Harvard Chan School professor, explained that they found “relatively consistent set types of microbes Related to type 2 diabetes»And “many of these species have never been recorded before”.

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Changes in gut bacteria increase or decrease the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

To understand the role of these bowel changesthe team analyzed the functionality of the species and found that certain strains had functions closely associated with some risk factors diabetes type 2.

In particular, the researchers discovered the presence of a strain called Prevotella copriwith the ability to produce abundant branched-chain amino acids, predominantly in gut microbiome patients with type 2 diabetes.

In this sense, the researchers say this is a surprising discovery, which suggests that bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) can cause some changes present in certain strains of intestinal bacteria.

According to Vanga, “This could mean that virus infects a bacterium and changes its function in a way that increases or decreases the risk of infection. diabetes type 2“.

What changes in the gut can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes?

After the study, scientists claim that the changes in gut microbiome cause type 2 diabetes later, not the other way around. But the truth is that they need more evidence to firmly demonstrate the relationship.

However, for experts this is of decisive importance.”Find a way change the microbiome and reduce risk diabetes type 2for example, with dietary changes, probiotics, or stool transplants.” — says Van.

This information in no way replaces a diagnosis or a doctor’s prescription. It is important to consult a specialist when symptoms appear and never self-medicate.