Probiotic Formula Ameliorates Renal Dysfunction Indicators, Glycemic Levels, and Blood Pressure in a Diabetic Nephropathy Mouse Model

Gut microbiota interventions in type 2 diabetes mellitus: An umbrella review of glycemic indices

BACKGROUND

We aimed to explore how probiotics, prebiotics, or synbiotics impact glycemic indices in patients with diabetes mellitus.

METHOD

A comprehensive search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception up to April 2023. The random-effects model was employed for the study analysis. Furthermore, sensitivity and subgroup analyses were conducted to investigate potential sources of heterogeneity. AMSTAR2 checklist was used to determine the quality of studies. Comprehensive meta-analysis version 3 was used for the study analysis.

RESULT

A total of 31 studies were included in the final analysis. Based on the results of the meta-analysis, gut microbial therapy could significantly decrease serum fasting blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (effect size: -0.211; 95 % CI: -0.257, -0.164; P < 0.001). Additionally, significant associations were also found between gut microbial therapy and improved serum levels of fasting insulin, glycated hemoglobin, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (effect size: -0.087; 95 % confidence interval: -0.120, -0.053; P < 0.001; effect size: -0.166; 95 % confidence interval: -0.200, -0.132; P < 0.001; effect size: -0.230; 95 % confidence interval: -0.288, -0.172; P < 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Our results revealed promising effects of gut microbiota modulation on glycemic profile of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The use of these agents as additional treatments can be considered.

Can probiotics be used in the prevention and treatment of bronchial asthma?

Asthma is a lifelong condition with varying degrees of severity and susceptibility to symptom control. Recent studies have examined the effects of individual genus, species, and strains of probiotic microorganisms on the course of asthma. The present review aims to provide an overview of current knowledge on the use of probiotic microorganisms, mainly bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, in asthma prevention and treatment. Recent data from clinical trials and mouse models of allergic asthma indicate that probiotics have therapeutic potential in this condition. Animal studies indicate that probiotic microorganisms demonstrate anti-inflammatory activity, attenuate airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), and reduce airway mucus secretion. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human trials found that combining multi-strain probiotics with prebiotics yielded promising outcomes in the treatment of clinical manifestations of asthma. It appears that probiotic supplementation is safe and significantly reduces the frequency of asthma exacerbations, as well as improved forced expiratory volume and peak expiratory flow parameters, and greater attenuation of inflammation. Due to the small number of available clinical trials, and the use of a wide range of probiotic microorganisms and assessment methods, it is not possible to draw clear conclusions regarding the use of probiotics as asthma treatments.

The role of probiotics on microvascular complications of type-2 diabetes: Nephropathy and retinopathy

Diabetes is a multifactorial disorder that involves several molecular mechanisms and is still one of the key global health challenges with increasing prevalence and incidence. Gut microbiome dysbiosis could activate and recognize receptors that trigger the inflammation response and modulation of insulin sensitivity. In addition, the intricate role of gut microbiota dysbiosis in the onset and development of T2D (Type 2 diabetes mellitus) and associated microvascular complications was identified. These complications include diabetic nephropathy (DN) and diabetic retinopathy (DR), diabetic neuropathy, cerebrovascular disorders, and coronary heart disease. A recent interesting strategy to improve these complications is probiotics administration. The safety and health effects of probiotics against various diseases have been validated by various in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies. In this review, the related mechanisms between the gut microbiome, initiation, and progression of T2D and its common microvascular complications (DN and DR) have been discussed.

Gut microbiota microbial metabolites in diabetic nephropathy patients: far to go

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the main complications of diabetes and a major cause of end-stage renal disease, which has a severe impact on the quality of life of patients. Strict control of blood sugar and blood pressure, including the use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors, can delay the progression of diabetic nephropathy but cannot prevent it from eventually developing into end-stage renal disease. In recent years, many studies have shown a close relationship between gut microbiota imbalance and the occurrence and development of DN. This review discusses the latest research findings on the correlation between gut microbiota and microbial metabolites in DN, including the manifestations of the gut microbiota and microbial metabolites in DN patients, the application of the gut microbiota and microbial metabolites in the diagnosis of DN, their role in disease progression, and so on, to elucidate the role of the gut microbiota and microbial metabolites in the occurrence and prevention of DN and provide a theoretical basis and methods for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Resveratrol improves diabetic kidney disease by modulating the gut microbiota-short chain fatty acids axis in db/db mice

Diabetic kidney disease is associated with the dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and its metabolites. db/db mice were fed chow diet with or without 0.4% resveratrol for 12 weeks, after which the gut microbiota, faecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and renal fibrosis were analysed. Resveratrol ameliorated the progression of diabetic kidney disease and alleviated tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Further studies showed that gut microbiota dysbiosis was modulated by resveratrol, characterised by the expansion of SCFAs-producing bacteria Faecalibaculum and Lactobacillus, which increased the concentrations of SCFAs (especially acetic acid) in the faeces. Moreover, microbiota transplantation experiments found that alteration of the gut microbiota contributed to the prevention of diabetic kidney disease. Acetate treatment ameliorated proteinuria, glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis in db/db mice. Overall, resveratrol improved the progression of diabetic kidney disease by suppressing tubulointerstitial fibrosis, which may be involved, at least in part, in the regulation of the gut microbiota-SCFAs axis.

Safety Assessment and Probiotic Potential Comparison of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis BLI-02, Lactobacillus plantarum LPL28, Lactobacillus acidophilus TYCA06, and Lactobacillus paracasei ET-66

Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis BLI-02, Lactobacillus paracasei ET-66, Lactobacillus plantarum LPL28, and Lactobacillus acidophilus TYCA06, isolated from healthy breast milk, miso, and the healthy human gut, were assessed for safety in this study. BLI-02, LPL28, TYCA06, and ET-66 exhibited no antibiotic resistance and mutagenic activity in the Ames test at the highest dosage (5000 μg/plate). No genotoxicity was observed in micronucleus and chromosomal aberration assays in rodent spermatogonia at the maximum dosage of 10 g/kg body weight (BW). No acute and sub-chronic toxicity occurred in mice and rats at the maximum tested dosage of 10 g/kg BW and 1.5 g/kg BW, respectively. The lyophilized powder of these strains survived a low pH and high bile salt environment, adhering strongly to Caco-2 cells. Unique antimicrobial activities were noted in these strains, with BLI-02 demonstrating the best growth inhibition against Vibrio parahaemolyticus, LPL28 exhibiting the best growth inhibition against Helicobacter pylori, and ET-66 showing the best growth inhibition against Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. Based on the present study, the lyophilized powder of these four strains appears to be a safe probiotic supplement at tested dosages. It should be applicable for clinical or healthcare applications.