A meta-genomic study, conducted as part of the EU-based MetaHIT (Metagenomics of the Human Intestinal Tract) project involving eight countries, reveals a prominent association between the gut bacteria environment and type-2 diabetes. Oluf Borbye Pedersen, from the University of Copenhagen (Denmark), and colleagues identified that patients with type-2 diabetes have an imbalance in gut bacteria, specifically an excess of harmful strains and a deficit of beneficial strains. The study authors submit that their findings: “demonstrate that these gut microbial markers might be useful for classifying type 2 diabetes.”
Gut Environment May Influence Type-2 Diabetes
Major changes to the profile of a personu2019s gut bacteria environment may associate with the development of type-2 diabetes.
Qin J, Li Y, Cai Z, Li S, Zhu J, Zhang F, Kristiansen K, Wang J, et al. “A metagenome-wide association study of gut microbiota in type 2 diabetes.” Nature. 2012 Sep 26.