Host–microbiome interactions in human type 2 diabetes following prebiotic fibre (galacto-oligosaccharide) intake

Study answer

What this study found

Prebiotic supplementation did not improve glucose control, gut barrier function, endotoxaemia, inflammation, or overall gut microbiota composition versus placebo. Key glucose outcomes were not significant, including fasting glucose (P=0.227), glucose tAUC 180 min (P=0.485), glucose iAUC 180 min (P=0.221), fasting insulin (P=0.543), and insulin tAUC 180 min (P=0.112). No adverse side effects were reported. The authors concluded there was no evidence for a role of prebiotics in treating type 2 diabetes in this cohort, although some microbiome associations were noted and were not robust after…

Study & population

Randomized placebo-controlled study in men aged 42-65 years with well-controlled type 2 diabetes receiving stable treatment, many of whom were taking metformin.

Intervention

Participants in the active arm received 5.5 g/day of a galacto-oligosaccharide prebiotic mixture (Bi 2 muno) taken orally in sachets, mixed into beverages or food, for 12 weeks.

Key limitation

The active arm was small, with only 14 randomized/analyzed participants, and the intervention lasted just 12 weeks.

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Original abstract