Can Bacteria be Beneficial in Diabetes Treatment?

According to a new study, patients with diabetes may benefit from adding foods that contain a particular gut bacteria to their diets.

Most people think negative thoughts when they hear the word bacteria used in a sentence. What some people may not be aware of is that not all bacteria are harmful to you. In fact, some bacteria are great for you, such as probiotics. It has been proven that the gut is home to a multitude of different bacterial organisms. Any irregularities in these bacteria can potentially cause type 2 diabetes. This study experimented with mice and pulled data from previous research on both humans and mice. The mice from the study consumed either a regular diet, or a diet designed to be equivalent to typical American diet, high in saturated fats and refined sugars. The mice that consumed the American diet had problems with their glucose and insulin levels. Along with these issues, the mice also experienced a change in their gut bacteria.  

The researchers were able to isolate four different types of bacteria responsible for either increasing or decreasing the American diet’s negative impact. The bacteria they isolated were Ruminococcus gnavus, Romboutsia ilealis, Lactobacillus johnsonii, and Lactobacillus gasseri. Two of the four bacterial organisms found improved how the body metabolizes glucose, and the remaining two had the opposite effect. The research shows a direct relation between bacteria and the body mass index of individuals who consume an American diet. Individuals with an increased amount of the two good bacteria were found to have a lower weight and body mass index. People with an increased amount of harmful bacteria were found to have a higher weight and body mass index. Romboutsia ilealis was found in eighty percent of overweight individuals; for this reason, it is believed to contribute to obesity. 

Having isolated these four different bacteria strains, the researchers introduced them into the mice to see what effects they would have on them. The mice fed a diet that incorporated Romboutsia ilealis did not tolerate glucose well and had low insulin levels. This bacterium seemed not to affect the body mass index of the mice. Lactobacillus johnsonii and Lactobacillus gasseri helped to reduce fat when introduced into the mice. These two bacteria had positive effects on the mice, fed the American diet, and their ability to handle the glucose in their bodies. 

For this reason, these two gut bacteria could have significant effects on patients living with diabetes if introduced into their therapy. Scientists also studied the liver and the gut as they are affected by Lactobacillus johnsonii and Lactobacillus gasseri. Patients with diabetes must decrease the amount of fat being stored in their livers to improve their condition.  

Although there is no current therapy containing Lactobacillus johnsonii and Lactobacillus gasseri to treat patients with diabetes, one can still introduce these into their diet. You can eat foods rich in Lactobacillus bacteria, like yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir, sourdough bread, and kimchi, to reap its benefits. These bacteria can be found in some probiotic supplements as well. 

Practice Pearls: 

• Not all bacteria are harmful to the human body; some of them can be extremely helpful. 
• Lactobacillus johnsonii and Lactobacillus gasseri can be very helpful in the treatment of diabetes because they increase glucose tolerance and insulin levels in the body. 
• Lactobacillus johnsonii and Lactobacillus gasseri can be obtained from eating yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir, sourdough bread, and kimchi, as well as taking a probiotic. 

Life-Space Team. Top Five Foods Containing Lactobacillus. Life-Space Living Innovation, 16 March 2020. 

Vince, M. “Meet the Bacteria That Might Help Treat Diabetes.” Medical News Today, 7 January 2021. 

Lu, Jian; Ma, Kun Ling. Dysbiosis of Gut Microbiota Contributes to the Development of Diabetes Mellitus. Infectious Microbes and Diseases, December 2019. 

Oluwatayo Ishola, PharmD. Candidate, South College, School of Pharmacy