By leading to a dysregulation of the intestinal microbiota, an unbalanced diet can promote metabolic diseases such as type 1 diabetes.
- A poor diet leads to an imbalance of the intestinal microbiota, which itself increases the presence of a molecule in the blood called imidazole propionate.
- Imidazole propionate makes cells in the body resistant to insulin and therefore increases the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Composed of billions of microorganisms located in the digestive tract, our intestinal microbiota contributes to the proper functioning of our digestive system and our immune system. Also, preserving it by adopting a healthy diet is essential to preserve its balance and to be in good health.
This is the conclusion drawn by researchers from Inserm, Sorbonne University, AP-HP and INRAE in collaboration with a Swedish team. In a new study published in the journal NatureCommunicationsthey show that changes in the composition of the gut microbiota lead to an increase in a molecule in the blood called imidazole propionate, which is known to make cells in the body resistant to insulin and increase the risk of diabetes. type 2.
An increase in imidazole propionate in the blood
Previous work has already shown that changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiota and the production of certain metabolites can directly influence the development of type 2 diabetes.
This new study with a large European cohort bringing together 990 participants from France, Germany and Denmark aimed to study the impact of changes in the intestinal microbiota on the onset and progression of cardio-metabolic diseases and associated pathologies. It showed that subjects with pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes had higher levels of imidazole propionate in the blood. This molecule blocks the action of insulin, preventing it from lowering the amounts of sugar in the blood. The intestinal microbiota of these subjects was also poorer in bacteria.
Poor diet to blame
For the researchers, these alterations in the bacterial composition of the microbiota are linked to an unbalanced diet. Poor nutrition leads to a disruption of the metabolism of an amino acid called histidine, which in turn leads to an increase in imidazole propionate and therefore problems with blood sugar regulation. There is then a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
“Our study suggests that individuals with poor diets have increased imidazole propionate and that there is a clear association between depleted microbiota composition, diet and type 2 diabetes”, explains Karine Clément, teacher-researcher in nutrition at Sorbonne University and coordinator of the project. Not only this study “aims to convey a message of prevention, emphasizing that a more varied diet enriches the microbiota”but it also has “therapeutic implications since we could consider in the future developing drugs modifying the synthesis of certain metabolites including imidazole propionate”.
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