The effects of probiotic supplementation on glycaemic control, gut microbiota and other diabetes-related outcomes in type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients / Fatin Umirah Mahamad Hazaham

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), one of the most prevailing non-communicable diseases, is associated with high mortality and morbidity. It appears that alteration of gut microbiota (i.e., dysbiosis) could be responsible for the development and progression of T2DM. In order to better understand the pathogenesis of T2DM, a systematic review was first conducted to critically appraise existing evidence of differential gut microbiota composition between T2DM and control groups as well as its correlation with metabolic parameters. Lactobacilli were found to predominate the gut of T2DM patients and correlated positively with glycaemic parameters. In contrast, butyrate producers dominated the gut of control group which can be seen by their negative correlations with glycaemic parameters. The shortlisted studies varied in terms of sample size, study design and population, which hindered meaningful general conclusions to be made. A case-control study was then designed and carried out to investigate the differential gut microbiota between T2DM patients and healthy control at local setting.