Impact of Lactobacillus acidophilus—La5 on Composition and Metabolism of the Intestinal Microbiota of Type 2 Diabetics (T2D) and Healthy Individuals Using a Microbiome Model

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by dysbiosis in the gut, which may lead to systemic inflammation. Therefore, the use of probiotics may help to achieve a balanced microbiota and improve glycemic control. The aim of this study was to verify the impact of Lactobacillus acidophilus—La5 on the gut microbiome of type 2 diabetes adults using the Human Gut Microbial Ecosystem Simulator (SHIME®) and compare this to the microbiome of healthy subjects. Four groups (Control Group: NormoGlycemic; Treatment Group: T2D) were evaluated in SHIME® for 6 weeks. After 7 and 14 days of colonic fermentation, the intestinal microbiota (16S rRNA gene sequencing) and metabolites (short-chain fatty acids) were analyzed. La5 altered the composition of the microbiota after 14 days of treatment for both groups, by increasing the abundance of Bacteroidetes and a decrease in Firmicutes in the NormoGlycemic. Treatment with La5 resulted in a shift in the microbial community of NormoGlycemic with increased abundance of Bacteroides and Mitsuokella and a decrease in Achromobacter and Catabacter, whereas T2D gut microbiome was enriched with Faecalibacterium and reduced in Bacteroides. Megasphaera spp. stimulated with La5 treatment in NormoGlycemic has already been reported to produce intestinal metabolites and recognized to contribute to increased anti-inflammatory and immune responses. Faecalibacterium, on the other hand, can modulate the intestinal epithelium and be a major butyrate product in the microbiota. Finally, this study showed a positive and promising result of La5 treatment in increasing intestinal homeostasis in the microbiota of T2D.