Role of Intestinal Microbiome in Lipid and Glucose Metabolism in Diabetes Mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
The contribution of intestinal bacterial strains (gut microbiota) in human metabolism and obesity is being increasingly recognized. The goal of this article was to provide a commentary on the clinical usefulness of these data.


METHODS
We performed a review of the currently available articles on PubMed.


RESULTS
Because most of the data are based on germ-free animal research, translation to human disease may be difficult. However, changes in the intestinal bacterial composition and subsequent altered diversity have been associated with the presence of chronic low-grade inflammation, a known feature of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus.


CONCLUSIONS
It is still not proven whether intestinal bacteria play a causal role in glucose and lipid metabolism. Intervention studies including fecal transplantation and supplementation of single bacterial strains in humans might provide more insight. Moreover, prospective cohorts of healthy subjects using fecal samples collected at baseline can help to identify causally involved specific intestinal bacterial strains that drive aberrant human metabolism. Ultimately, it would be a great asset if potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets could be derived from this novel player in human cardiometabolism.
Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Casper
C
van Olden
Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, University of Groningen, UMCG, Groningen, the Netherlands.
Albert K
AK
Groen
Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; VUmc Diabetes Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Free University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Wallenberg Laboratory, University of Gothenberg, Gothenberg, Sweden. Electronic address: m.nieuwdorp@amc.uva.nl.
Max
M
Nieuwdorp
D000818:Animals; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000378:metabolism; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism
D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D005947:Glucose
diabetes; glucose; lipids; metabolism; microbiome