Prebiotics as a Tool for the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity and Diabetes: Classification and Ability to Modulate the Gut Microbiota

Abstract

Diabetes and obesity are metabolic diseases that have become alarming conditions in recent decades. Their rate of increase is becoming a growing concern worldwide. Recent studies have established that the composition and dysfunction of the gut microbiota are associated with the development of diabetes. For this reason, strategies such as the use of prebiotics to improve intestinal microbial structure and function have become popular. Consumption of prebiotics for modulating the gut microbiota results in the production of microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids that play essential roles in reducing blood glucose levels, mitigating insulin resistance, reducing inflammation, and promoting the secretion of glucagon-like peptide 1 in the host, and this accounts for the observed remission of metabolic diseases. Prebiotics can be either naturally extracted from non-digestible carbohydrate materials or synthetically produced. In this review, we discussed current findings on how the gut microbiota and microbial metabolites may influence host metabolism to promote health. We provided evidence from various studies that show the ability of prebiotic consumption to alter gut microbial profile, improve gut microbial metabolism and functions, and improve host physiology to alleviate diabetes and obesity. We conclude among other things that the application of systems biology coupled with bioinformatics could be essential in ascertaining the exact mechanisms behind the prebiotic–gut microbe–host interactions required for diabetes and obesity improvement.

Novel insights into the pathogenic impact of diabetes on the gastrointestinal tract

“…On the other hand, gut microbe‐host interactions are markedly involved in the onset and progression of gastrointestinal disorders, 285 mainly through direct and indirect effects on the gut–liver–brain axis and on intestinal permeability 231–233 . Future studies oriented to manipulate gut microbiota in diabetic patients with gastrointestinal disorders should better explain the complex pathogenic relationships between these two inter‐related conditions providing, at the same time, useful tools for the prevention and treatment of diabetes 286 …”

“…[231][232][233] Future studies oriented to manipulate gut microbiota in diabetic patients with gastrointestinal disorders should better explain the complex pathogenic relationships between these two inter-related conditions providing, at the same time, useful tools for the prevention and treatment of diabetes. 286 Finally, both T1DM and T2DM have been linked with an increased risk of gastrointestinal cancer. 287 Future prospective, experimental and epidemiologic studies should clarify if better management of metabolic homeostasis and a comprehensive assessment of gastrointestinal complaints in diabetic patients should also be able to reduce cancer risk.…”

Salidroside Affects Gut Microbiota Structure in db/db Mice by Affecting Insulin, Blood Glucose and Body Weight

“…26 Improving gut microbial metabolism and function can improve host physiology and reduce diabetes and obesity. 27 Studies have proven that SAL can significantly change the diversity of intestinal microbes, 28 and SAL can improve nonalcoholic steatohepatitis through the mycolic acid-FXR axis in microbes. 18 In most cases, the higher the diversity and richness of the intestinal microbiota are, the more abundant the types of microorganisms, and the dynamic balance that is formed by different components of the microbiota is the basis for normal metabolism in the host.…”

Citrinin Derivatives From Penicillium Citrinum Y34 That Inhibit α-Glucosidase and ATP-Citrate Lyase

“…Disorders of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism are the main reason of metabolic diseases, which show an increasing morbidity recently and has become a growing concern worldwide (Megur et al, 2022). As α-glucosidase, a carbohydrate hydrolytic enzyme, is vital in modulating blood glucose levels, and ATP-citrate lyase (ACL) is a key enzyme that links carbohydrate with lipid metabolism by producing acetyl-CoA from citrate for the biosynthesis of fatty acid and cholesterol, they have been proven to be potential targets for the treatment of carbohydrate (such as diabetes) and lipid-disorder-related disease (such as hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia) (Sansenya and Payaka, 2022;Wan et al, 2022;Zhou et al, 2022).…”