• Relationship between probiotics on type II diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis
  • faezeh sarafraz,1 Nazanin Zare,2 Mohammad Javad Forouzani-Moghaddam,3,*
    1. Msc of Food Microbiology, School of Paramedical, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
    2. MSc of Pathogenic microbes, School of Science, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman, Iran
    3. Msc of Food Microbiology, School of Paramedical, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran


  • Introduction: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efectiveness of probiotics on type II diabetes mel‑ litus (T2DM). The worldwide prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is constantly increasing, and it has become a major concern, with several implications for public health, economy, and social well-being. It is well-known that several factors such as lifestyle, increased intake of fat and sugar-rich foods, and host genetics can lead to T2DM. Some recent studies have suggested that the composition of the intestinal microbiota can trigger T2DM.
  • Methods: We performed a comprehensive search on PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastruc‑ ture, Chinese Scientifc Journal Databases, Wan Fang database and China biology medicine disc for relevant studies published before June 2019. Glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) were used as indicators for T2DM. Inverse-variance weighted mean difer‑ ence (WMD) with 95% confdence interval (CI) was calculated for the mean HbA1c, FBG and HOMA-IR changes from baseline.
  • Results: 15 randomized controlled trials (RCT) with a total of 902 participants were included into the meta-analysis. Considering the clinical heterogeneity caused by variation of dosage and duration of probiotic treatment, randomefects model was used to estimate the pooled WMD. Signifcantly greater reduction in HbA1c% (WMD=−0.24, 95% CI [−0.44, −0.04], p=0.02), FBG (WMD=−0.44 mmol/L, 95% CI [−0.74, −0.15], p=0.003) and HOMA-IR (WMD=−1.07, 95% CI [−1.58, −0.56], p<0.00001) were observed in probiotics treated group. Further sensitivity analysis verifed the reliability and stability of our results.
  • Conclusion: The results of our meta-analysis indicated that probiotics treatment may reduce HbA1c, FBG and insulin resistance level in T2DM patients. More clinical data and research into the mechanism of probiotics are needed to clarify the role of probiotics in T2DM. Since then, considerable effort has been made to understand the link between the composition of intestinal microbiota and T2DM, as well as the role of probiotics in modulation of intestinal microbiota. This mini-review summarizes the major findings and discusses the close relationship between intestinal microbiota, probiotics, and T2DM.
  • Keywords: Type 2 diabetes . Gut microbiota . Probiotic . Chronic disease