Dietary Fiber Intake Modulates Gut Microbiota and Metabolites to Reduce Type 2 Diabetes Risk: Study

Type 2 diabetes poses a significant public health challenge globally, with dietary factors playing a crucial role in its prevention and management. The study sought to explore how dietary fiber influences gut microbiota composition, circulating metabolites, and ultimately, the risk of developing T2D.

The study included 11,394 participants from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. Dietary intake was assessed using two 24-hour dietary recalls, while gut microbiome and serum metabolome were analyzed using advanced techniques. Associations between dietary fiber intake, gut microbiota composition, circulating metabolites, and incident T2D over six years were examined.

The key findings of the study were as follows:

Gut Microbiota Associations:

• Multiple bacterial genera, species, and enzymes associated with dietary fiber intake were identified.

• Bacteria such as Butyrivibrio and Faecalibacterium, along with fiber-degrading enzymes, were positively associated with fiber intake and inversely associated with prevalent T2D.

Circulating Metabolites:

• 159 metabolites were associated with fiber intake, with 47 linked to incident T2D.

• Microbial metabolites like indolepropionate and 3-phenylpropionate were inversely associated with T2D risk.

Interplay Between Microbiota and Metabolites:

• 18 of the identified metabolites were associated with fiber-related bacteria, indicating a complex interplay between gut microbiota and circulating metabolites.

• Butyrivibrio and Faecalibacterium were associated with these favorable metabolites, suggesting their potential role in T2D prevention.

The study highlights the beneficial effects of dietary fiber on gut microbiota composition and circulating metabolites, ultimately influencing T2D risk among Hispanic/Latino populations. These findings underscore the importance of dietary fiber in promoting metabolic health and preventing T2D.

Understanding the intricate relationship between dietary fiber, gut microbiota, and circulating metabolites provides valuable insights for personalized dietary interventions aimed at reducing the risk of T2D. Healthcare professionals can utilize this knowledge to develop targeted dietary strategies tailored to individual needs, ultimately improving diabetes prevention and management outcomes.

Reference:

Wang, Z., Peters, B. A., Yu, B., Grove, M. L., Wang, T., Xue, X., Thyagarajan, B., Daviglus, M. L., Boerwinkle, E., Hu, G., Mossavar-Rahmani, Y., Isasi, C. R., Knight, R., Burk, R. D., Kaplan, R. C., & Qi, Q. (2024). Gut Microbiota and blood metabolites related to fiber intake and type 2 diabetes. Circulation Research, 134(7), 842–854.https://doi.org/10.1161/circresaha.123.323634