Maintaining Digestive Health in Diabetes: The Role of the Gut Microbiome and the Challenge of Functional Foods

Abstract

Over the last decades, the incidence of diabetes has increased in developed countries and beyond the genetic impact, environmental factors, which can trigger the activation of the gut immune system, seem to affect the induction of the disease process. Since the composition of the gut microbiome might disturb the normal interaction with the immune system and contribute to altered immune responses, the restoration of normal microbiota composition constitutes a new target for the prevention and treatment of diabetes. Thus, the interaction of gut microbiome and diabetes, focusing on mechanisms connecting gut microbiota with the occurrence of the disorder, is discussed in the present review. Finally, the challenge of functional food diet on maintaining intestinal health and microbial flora diversity and functionality, as a potential tool for the onset inhibition and management of the disease, is highlighted by reporting key animal studies and clinical trials. Early onset of the disease in the oral cavity is an important factor for the incorporation of a functional food diet in daily routine.

Gut microbiome and human health: Exploring how the probiotic genus Lactobacillus modulate immune responses

“…While other cytokines IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-1β works in a synergistic manner by infiltrating the β-cells of the pancreas, subsequently inducing cellular apoptosis and damage. Thus, higher pro-inflammatory cytokines levels in muscle, liver and adipose tissues are major drivers of diabetes pathology as they inhibit insulin signalling causing insulin resistance ( Tsalamandris et al, 2019 ; Bezirtzoglou et al, 2021 ). Interestingly, L. plantarum Y44 showed downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes in the liver, intestine and muscle tissues particularly by activating regulatory anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, highlighting their immunomodulatory role ( Liu et al, 2020 ).…”

Probiotic Mechanisms Affecting Glucose Homeostasis: A Scoping Review

“…Furthermore, by analysing the structure of the gut microbiota of patients with type 2 diabetes or those prone to developing the disease, physicians can improve the prognosis or course of the disease by preventing a deterioration in glycaemic status, and thus, the development of insulin resistance [ 13 ]. However, it is recommended to include functional foods with probiotic properties in the daily diet of patients with type 2 diabetes to improve metabolic imbalance and control and prevent the severity of the disease [ 27 , 123 ].…”

“…Selected microbial strains commonly known as probiotics have been documented to have a beneficial effect on glycaemic control in the blood (reviewed in [ 13 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]). In addition, there is growing evidence that microorganisms play an important role in glucose homeostasis, particularly in metabolic conditions such as obesity and obesity-induced insulin resistance [ 14 , 15 ], metabolic syndrome [ 16 , 17 ], type 2 diabetes [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 27 ] and cardiovascular disorders [ 23 , 28 ]. Despite different opinions on the terminology of probiotics [ 29 ], a microorganism can be classified as a probiotic if it meets most of the safety, functional, technological and physiological criteria [ 30 , 31 ].…”

Value-added effects of using aromatic plants in foods and human therapy

“…Medicinal plants and herbs are shown to possess beneficial effects such as hypoglycemic properties and optimization of markers related to the disease (Al-Snafi et al, 2019). In this vein, research was launched all over the world to understand the therapeutic impact and the potential antidiabetic activities of medicinal aromatic plants (Clark et al, 1998;Ganesan et al, 2012;Enwa et al, 2013;Enwa, 2014;Dong et al, 2012;Hajimonfarednejad et al, 2018;Bezirtzoglou et al, 2021) by isolation of drastic compounds, biological testing of extracts, pharmacodynamics, toxicity test and finally clinical studies.…”