Modulation of Short-Chain Fatty Acids as Potential Therapy Method for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

In recent years, the relationship between intestinal microbiota (IM) and the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has attracted much attention. The beneficial effects of IM on the metabolic phenotype of the host are often considered to be mediated by short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), mainly acetate, butyrate, and propionate, the small-molecule metabolites derived from microbial fermentation of indigestible carbohydrates. SCFAs not only have an essential role in intestinal health but might also enter the systemic circulation as signaling molecules affecting the host’s metabolism. In this review, we summarize the effects of SCFAs on glucose homeostasis and energy homeostasis and the mechanism through which SCFAs regulate the function of metabolically active organs (brain, liver, adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and pancreas) and discuss the potential role of modulation of SCFAs as a therapeutic method for T2DM.

Dietary fiber modulates abdominal fat deposition associated with cecal microbiota and metabolites in yellow chickens

“…It is not clear how dietary fiber mechanistically influences fat distribution. One explanation is that fiber intake plays a role in controlling insulin secretion or other lipogenic hormones ( Tang et al., 2021 ). Another possible reason is that intake of fiber influences hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal activity and may reduce fat deposition ( Tannenbaum et al., 1997 ).…”

Activation of the gut microbiota-kynurenine-liver axis contributes to the development of nonalcoholic hepatic steatosis in nondiabetic adults

“…Yamada et al showed that dietary cholic acid promoted NAFLD in pigs by activating local and systemic oxidative stress-induced signaling leading to macrophage mobilization [ 41 ]. Decreased production of acetate, a major intestinal and circulating SCFA produced by gut bacteria from dietary fiber metabolism, was also reported in many diseases, including NAFLD, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes [ 45 – 47 ]. In this regard, Sun et al found that changes in the gut microbiota induced by a high-sucrose diet promoted the development of NAFLD in rats by reducing microbial production of SCFAs [ 16 ].…”

Effects and Mechanisms of Probiotics, Prebiotics, Synbiotics, and Postbiotics on Metabolic Diseases Targeting Gut Microbiota: A Narrative Review

“…Moreover, several prebiotic foods like Lactobacillus plantarum -fermented Momordica charantia juice possessed a better anti-diabetic effect than the native one [ 31 ]. Furthermore, because the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus is often accompanied by the regulation of gut bacterial metabolites, postbiotics could be an alternative therapeutic agent for probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplant [ 32 ]. However, other studies implied that the consumption of synbiotic foods only revealed limited mitigation in diabetes mellitus, especially gestational diabetes mellitus [ 33 , 34 ].…”