Intestinal microbiota may increase insulin sensitivity

Transfer of intestinal microbiota from lean donors increases insulin sensitivity in metabolic syndrome, finds the latest issue of Gastroenterology.

Alterations in intestinal microbiota are associated with obesity and insulin resistance.

Dr Max Nieuwdorp and colleagues from the Netherlands studied the effects of infusing intestinal microbiota from lean donors to male recipients with metabolic syndrome on the recipients' microbiota composition and glucose metabolism.

Subjects were assigned randomly to groups that were given small intestinal infusions of allogenic or autologous microbiota.

Insulin sensitivity increased with levels of butyrate-producing intestinal microbiota

Gastroenterology

The research team found that 6 weeks after infusion of microbiota from lean donors, insulin sensitivity of recipients increased along with levels of butyrate-producing intestinal microbiota.

Dr Nieuwdorp's team commented, "Intestinal microbiota might be developed as therapeutic agents to increase insulin sensitivity in humans."