It makes sense that the microbiome might have a significant effect on our metabolism of food, and the regulation of blood sugar. The pancreas, in charge of insulin production and blood sugar regulation, is in the same body cavity as the large intestine, which is the organ in charge of waste disposal through the action of a myriad of bacteria. Ideally all those bacteria are “commensal”, meaning they live in harmony with us, and do not cause illness.
Who knew that gut bacteria could actually cause diabetes, type I or type II? Or help in its treatment?[i]
A recent discovery shows there is a relationship between gut microbes – Akkermansia muciniphila specifically – and the development of type I diabetes in mice. When the Akkermansia were transferred to a diabetes-prone mice, the incidence of development of diabetes was lowered. In other words, the Akkermansia appeared to be protective.[ii] There is even a pharmaceutical product – a purified protein from the pasteurized bacterial cell wall coating – which is safe in humans.[iii]
How do we promote the growth of Akkermansia muciniphila in the gut? Akkermansia is a member of the Verrucibicrobia family – bacteria which are good at digesting cellulose – i.e. vegetables. One might suspect that eating a diet high in vegetables would encourage Akkermansia to grow. Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are sometimes given as a “prebiotic” and have been showed to promote the growth of Akkermansia and to promote weight loss.[iv]
Rhubarb extract (the Chinese medicine known as Da Huang) is used as a laxative (as any aficionado of rhubarb pie knows). It also significantly increases the fecal content of Akkermansia probably due to the anthraquinone compounds.[v]
I am sure that we all are aware that artificial sweeteners induce a craving for sugar. Who would have guessed that artificial sweeteners change the composition of the gut microbiome[vi] – although we might have suspected, since artificial sweeteners provide NO nutritive value, either to ourselves or to the bacteria that depend on us for their nourishment.
[i] Cani, P. D., and M. Van Hul. "Novel opportunities for next-generation probiotics targeting metabolic syndrome." Current opinion in biotechnology 32 (2015): 21.
[ii] Hänninen, Arno, et al. "Akkermansia muciniphila induces gut microbiota remodelling and controls islet autoimmunity in NOD mice." Gut 67.8 (2018): 1445-1453.
[iii] Plovier, Hubert, et al. "A purified membrane protein from Akkermansia muciniphila or the pasteurized bacterium improves metabolism in obese and diabetic mice." Nature medicine 23.1 (2017): 107.
[iv] Everard, Amandine, et al. "Cross-talk between Akkermansia muciniphila and intestinal epithelium controls diet-induced obesity." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 110.22 (2013): 9066-9071.
[v] Neyrinck, Audrey M., et al. "Rhubarb extract prevents hepatic inflammation induced by acute alcohol intake, an effect related to the modulation of the gut microbiota." Molecular nutrition & food research 61.1 (2017): 1500899.
[vi] Suez, Jotham, et al. "Artificial sweeteners induce glucose intolerance by altering the gut microbiota." Nature 514.7521 (2014): 181-186.
[1] Cani, P. D., and M. Van Hul. "Novel opportunities for next-generation probiotics targeting metabolic syndrome." Current opinion in biotechnology 32 (2015): 21.
[1] Hänninen, Arno, et al. "Akkermansia muciniphila induces gut microbiota remodelling and controls islet autoimmunity in NOD mice." Gut 67.8 (2018): 1445-1453.
[1] Plovier, Hubert, et al. "A purified membrane protein from Akkermansia muciniphila or the pasteurized bacterium improves metabolism in obese and diabetic mice." Nature medicine 23.1 (2017): 107.
[1] Everard, Amandine, et al. "Cross-talk between Akkermansia muciniphila and intestinal epithelium controls diet-induced obesity." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 110.22 (2013): 9066-9071.
[1] Neyrinck, Audrey M., et al. "Rhubarb extract prevents hepatic inflammation induced by acute alcohol intake, an effect related to the modulation of the gut microbiota." Molecular nutrition & food research 61.1 (2017): 1500899.
[1] Suez, Jotham, et al. "Artificial sweeteners induce glucose intolerance by altering the gut microbiota." Nature 514.7521 (2014): 181-186.