Faecal Microbiota Are Related to Insulin Sensitivity and Secretion in Overweight or Obese Adults

• Main Authors: Negar Naderpoor, Aya Mousa, Luisa F. Gomez-Arango, Helen L. Barrett, Marloes Dekker Nitert, Barbora de Courten
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-04-01
• Series: Journal of Clinical Medicine
• Subjects: faecal microbiota; body mass index; percent body fat; insulin secretion; insulin sensitivity; hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/8/4/452

Emerging evidence suggests a role for the gut microbiota in glucose metabolism and diabetes. Few studies have examined the associations between the faecal microbiome and insulin sensitivity and secretion using gold-standard methods in high-risk populations prior to diabetes onset. We investigated the relationships between faecal microbiota composition (16S rRNA sequencing) and gold-standard measures of insulin sensitivity (hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp) and insulin secretion (intravenous glucose tolerance test) in 38 overweight or obese otherwise healthy individuals. Genus <i>Clostridium</i> was positively associated with insulin sensitivity, and genera <i>Dialister</i> and <i>Phascolarctobacterium</i> were related to both insulin sensitivity and secretion. Insulin sensitivity was associated with a higher abundance of <i>Phascolarctobacterium</i> and lower abundance of <i>Dialister</i>. Those with higher insulin secretion had a higher abundance of <i>Dialister</i> and lower abundance of <i>Bifidobacterium</i>, compared to those with lower insulin secretion. Body mass index (BMI) was positively correlated with <i>Streptococcus</i> abundance whereas <i>Coprococcus</i> abundance was negatively correlated to BMI and percent body fat. These results suggest that faecal microbiota is related to insulin sensitivity and secretion in overweight or obese adults. These correlations are distinct although partially overlapping, suggesting different pathophysiological pathways. Our findings can inform future trials aiming to manipulate gut microbiome to improve insulin sensitivity and secretion and prevent type 2 diabetes.