Role of Postbiotics in Diabetes Mellitus: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives

Abstract

In the last decade, the gastrointestinal microbiota has been recognised as being essential for health. Indeed, several publications have documented the suitability of probiotics, prebiotics, and symbiotics in the management of different diseases such as diabetes mellitus (DM). Advances in laboratory techniques have allowed the identification and characterisation of new biologically active molecules, referred to as “postbiotics”. Postbiotics are defined as functional bioactive compounds obtained from food-grade microorganisms that confer health benefits when administered in adequate amounts. They include cell structures, secreted molecules or metabolic by-products, and inanimate microorganisms. This heterogeneous group of molecules presents a broad range of mechanisms and may exhibit some advantages over traditional “biotics” such as probiotics and prebiotics. Owing to the growing incidence of DM worldwide and the implications of the microbiota in the disease progression, postbiotics appear to be good candidates as novel therapeutic targets. In the present review, we summarise the current knowledge about postbiotic compounds and their potential application in diabetes management. Additionally, we envision future perspectives on this topic. In summary, the results indicate that postbiotics hold promise as a potential novel therapeutic strategy for DM.

Antidiabetic Effects of Pediococcus acidilactici pA1c on HFD-Induced Mice

“…Altogether, the results presented in this study have demonstrated that pA1c counteracted BW gain and insulin resistance, in a model of HFD-induced diabetic mice, thus preserving the intestinal function and metabolic health. The mechanisms that explain the antidiabetic activity of pA1c remain partially unexplored; however, we speculate that they may include protection against pancreatic degeneration and alteration of the intestinal In addition to the aforementioned, the effect of pA1c probiotic supplementation on GLP-1 may be related to GM modulation, in agreement with previous experiments with probiotics [67], probiotic-derived components (postbiotics) [21], and prebiotic compounds [71,75,76]. Specifically, the rise in plasma and intestinal GLP-1 levels could have been instigated by greater amounts of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), as described in previous animal studies [55,68].…”

“…In addition to the aforementioned, the effect of pA1c probiotic supplementation on GLP-1 may be related to GM modulation, in agreement with previous experiments with probiotics [ 67 ], probiotic-derived components (postbiotics) [ 21 ], and prebiotic compounds [ 71 , 75 , 76 ]. Specifically, the rise in plasma and intestinal GLP-1 levels could have been instigated by greater amounts of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), as described in previous animal studies [ 55 , 68 ].…”

“…On another note, it would be interesting to test whether probiotic viability is required to maintain pA1c’s health-promoting properties. Inactivated microorganisms, i.e., pasteurized [ 118 ], irradiated [ 119 ], or probiotic-derived products, often referred to as postbiotics [ 120 , 121 ], have been demonstrated to confer many benefits to the host in T2D [ 21 ], as well as in different contexts (reviewed in [ 122 ]), and may present a potent strategy for the control of metabolic diseases.…”

“…Dietary factors are important microbiota modulators [ 17 ] and, at the same time, contributing factors for PreD and T2D development [ 5 ]. Thus, a number of dietary strategies involving fermented foods [ 18 , 19 ], functional foods [ 20 ], postbiotics [ 21 ], and probiotics [ 22 , 23 , 24 ] are currently being investigated for their effectiveness in addressing diabetes-associated dysbiosis and preventing, or reversing, diabetic complications. Probiotics can alter GM’s composition and activity, improve the gut mucosa, modulate the immune system, and protect against pathogens [ 25 , 26 ], and for those reasons, they have been investigated in several diseases and conditions [ 27 , 28 ].…”

Gut Microbiota as the Link between Elevated BCAA Serum Levels and Insulin Resistance

“…Intestinal microbiota composition and function are hypothesized to play a pivotal role in the development of major non-communicable diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), chronic kidney disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and arterial hypertension [1]. The outbreak of the interest in microbiome and its relationship to human health was enabled by the rapid development of the next genome sequencing (NGS) technology in the late 1990s and the term "microbiota" was conceptualized in 2001 [2]. The first studies focused mainly on the microbiota composition but soon it became evident that the products of the microbial metabolism are at least as important as the bacteria inhabiting specific niches of the human body.…”