Probiotic Mechanisms Affecting Glucose Homeostasis: A Scoping Review

Abstract

The maintenance of a healthy status depends on the coexistence between the host organism and the microbiota. Early studies have already focused on the nutritional properties of probiotics, which may also contribute to the structural changes in the gut microbiota, thereby affecting host metabolism and homeostasis. Maintaining homeostasis in the body is therefore crucial and is reflected at all levels, including that of glucose, a simple sugar molecule that is an essential fuel for normal cellular function. Despite numerous clinical studies that have shown the effect of various probiotics on glucose and its homeostasis, knowledge about the exact function of their mechanism is still scarce. The aim of our review was to select in vivo and in vitro studies in English published in the last eleven years dealing with the effects of probiotics on glucose metabolism and its homeostasis. In this context, diverse probiotic effects at different organ levels were highlighted, summarizing their potential mechanisms to influence glucose metabolism and its homeostasis. Variations in results due to different methodological approaches were discussed, as well as limitations, especially in in vivo studies. Further studies on the interactions between probiotics, host microorganisms and their immunity are needed.

Interactions between Gut Microbiota and Oral Antihyperglycemic Drugs: A Systematic Review

“…In 2021, Lee et al showed in a clinical trial that treatment with Metformin led to changes in the levels of Clostridium, Escherichia, Intestinibacter, and Romboutsia [ 91 ]. These findings are consistent with the results of our study that showed the great influence Metformin has on the microbiota [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ].…”

“…It is particularly useful as it is calculated by taking the difference between the means of these two groups and dividing it by the pooled standard deviation. As can be seen in Figure 2 , some studies [ 17 , 19 , 22 , 23 , 25 ] have a negative difference between the means of the two populations studied (calculated using Cohen’s d). This means that those who were part of the INTERVENTION group had more changes in the microbiome when compared to the CONTROL/PLACEBO group.…”

High Fructose Causes More Prominent Liver Steatohepatitis with Leaky Gut Similar to High Glucose Administration in Mice and Attenuation by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum dfa1

“…However, a similar attenuation effect of probiotics was observed between mice administered fructose and glucose, despite the different abundances of Lactobacilli from microbiome analysis, also indicating that the probiotic effect of our high-sugar diet model should be due to an anti-prediabetes or an anti-obesity effect. In fact, Lactobacillus , Bifidobacterium , Clostridium , and Akkermansia are indicated as a bacterial group with beneficial changes in insulin resistance through several possible mechanisms (reduced carbohydrate absorption, improved energy utilization, facilitation of some intestinal enzymes and anti-inflammation) [ 94 , 95 ]. There were a number of limitations due to the study’s “proof-of-concept” characteristics, particularly with regard to the mechanical interpretation of the observed data.…”

High Fructose Causes More Prominent Liver Steatohepatitis With Leaky Gut Similar to High Glucose Administration in Mice and Attenuation by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum dfa1

“…However, a similar attenuation effect of probiotics was observed between fructose-and glucose-administered mice, despite the different abundances of Lactobacilli from microbiome analysis, also indicating that the probiotic effect of our high sugar diet model should be due to an anti-prediabetes or anti-obesity effect. In fact, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Clostridium, and Akkermansia are indicated as a bacterial group with beneficial changes in insulin resistance through several possible mechanisms (reduced carbohydrate absorption, improved energy utilization, facilitation of some intestinal enzymes and anti-inflammation) [96,97]. There were a number of limitations due to the study's "proof of concept" characteristics, particularly with regard to the mechanical interpretation of the observed data.…”