Published online Dec 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i47.17737
Revised: September 26, 2014
Accepted: November 18, 2014
Published online: December 21, 2014
The incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is rapidly increasing worldwide. However, the pathogenesis of T2DM has not yet been well explained. Recent evidence suggests that the intestinal microbiota composition is associated with obesity and T2DM. In this review, we provide an overview about the mechanisms underlying the role of intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis of T2DM. There is clear evidence that the intestinal microbiota influences the host through its effect on body weight, bile acid metabolism, proinflammatory activity and insulin resistance, and modulation of gut hormones. Modulating gut microbiota with the use of probiotics, prebiotics, antibiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation may have benefits for improvement in glucose metabolism and insulin resistance in the host. Further studies are required to increase our understanding of the complex interplay between intestinal microbiota and the host with T2DM. Further studies may be able to boost the development of new effective therapeutic approaches for T2DM.
Core tip: Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is believed to be caused by a series of multiple risk factors such as genetic liability, age, overweight or obesity, and an unhealthy lifestyle. Recently, accumulated evidence has suggested that the intestinal microbiota plays an important role in the pathogenesis of T2DM as a potential novel contributor. This review focuses on the underlying role of intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis of T2DM and the therapeutic potential of modulating gut microbiota in T2DM.