Association of the gut microbiota with type 2 diabetes: Links to disease and remission in the Japanese population.

Abstract

Background: Although the gut microbiota is associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its remission in clinical settings, their relationship in the general population remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between the gut microbiota and T2D and its remission in a population-based setting.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1,639 Japanese participants with (n = 106) or without (n = 1,533) T2D. The gut microbiota was compared between the two groups using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression. The relative abundance of the gut microbiota in fecal samples was calculated using 16S ribosomal RNA amplification. The association between the gut microbiota and T2D remission was determined via longitudinal analyses.

Results: Six genera were independently associated with T2D; a higher abundance of Faecalibacterium, Blautia, Roseburia, and Oscillibacter was significantly associated with a lower odds ratio for T2D, whereas a higher abundance of Megasphaera and Lactobacillus was significantly associated with a higher odds ratio for T2D. Of these, only Blautia abundance was significantly increased in the remission group compared with that in the non-remission group. In the remission group, an increase in Blautia abundance was significantly correlated with an increase in adiponectin level and skeletal muscle mass.

Conclusions: Specific gut microbes were significantly associated with T2D and its remission. The gut microbiota may represent a potential area for further exploration in T2D treatment and prevention. However, additional large-scale cohort studies or intervention studies using a probiotic or prebiotic approach are needed to validate these findings.