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Interesting. This may also help with weight regain. Just a thought

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Gut microflora and diabetes: Study suggests role for pro-, pre-biotics

By ls, 12-Feb-2010

Related topics: Probiotics, Research, Probiotics and prebiotics, Diabetes,

Weight management

Bacterial populations in the gut of diabetics differ from non-diabetics, says a

new study from Denmark that may open up a potential role for modify gut

microflora with probiotics and prebiotics and improve health.

The study, published in the open-access peer-reviewed journal PLoS ONE, builds

on earlier studies that have linked gut microflora and obesity. A breakthrough

paper published in Nature in December 2006 reported that microbial populations

in the gut are different between obese and lean people, and that when the obese

people lost weight their microflora reverted back to that observed in a lean

person, suggesting that obesity may have a microbial component.

Led by Nadja Larsen from the University of Copenhagen, the new research is

reportedly the first to look at intestinal microbiota in humans with and without

type-2 diabetes.

" Our data suggest that the levels of glucose tolerance or severity of diabetes

should be considered while linking microbiota with obesity and other metabolic

diseases in humans, " wrote the Danish researchers.

" It is especially important for developing the strategies to modify the gut

microbiota in order to control metabolic diseases, since obesity and diabetes

might be associated with different bacterial populations, " they added.

It is too soon to consider a role for probiotics and/or prebiotics in diabetes

prevention or management, but the new research points to a potential use in the

future.

Commenting independently on the study, Professor Glenn Gibson from the

University of Reading told NutraIngredients that the link between human gut

bacteriology and metabolic syndrome, and other related disorders is " intriguing

and gathering much pace " .

" There seems to be a consensus that differences do exist between microbiota

competition and obesity, Type 2 diabetes etc. However, the precise nature of

those differences is contentious. The current study adds to this debate and has

used robust molecular based methodologies to do so. What is clear is that the

metabolic function of gut flora is able to impact markedly upon the host and

affect health status - including satiety, effects upon calory extraction rates, "

said Prof Gibson.

" The good news is that probiotic and prebiotic intervention may be used, in high

risk populations, to change this for the better. In terms of metabolic syndrome

the target outcome (i.e. desired flora change) is still under debate, but the

tools are ready to fire at this target, " he added.