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Considerations for Gut Microbiota and Probiotics in Patients with Diabetes Amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Narrative Review.
Barengolts, E, Smith, ED
Endocrine practice : official journal of the American College of Endocrinology and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. 2020;(10):1186-1195
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To review data implicating microbiota influences on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with diabetes. METHODS Primary literature review included topics: "COVID-19," "SARS," "MERS," "gut micro-biota," "probiotics," "immune system," "ACE2," and "metformin." RESULTS Diabetes was prevalent (~11%) among COVID-19 patients and associated with increased mortality (about 3-fold) compared to patients without diabetes. COVID-19 could be associated with worsening diabetes control and new diabetes diagnosis that could be linked to high expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors (coronavirus point of entry into the host) in the endocrine pancreas. A pre-existing gut microbiota imbalance (dysbiosis) could contribute to COVID-19-related complications in patients with diabetes. The COVID-19 virus was found in fecal samples (~55%), persisted for about 5 weeks, and could be associated with diarrhea, suggesting a role for gut dysbiosis. ACE2 expressed on enterocytes and colonocytes could serve as an alternative route for acquiring COVID-19. Experimental models proposed some probiotics, including Lactobacillus casei, L. plantarum, and L. salivarius, as vectors for delivering or enhancing efficacy of anti-coronavirus vaccines. These Lactobacillus probiotics were also beneficial for diabetes. The potential mechanisms for interconnections between coronavirus, diabetes, and gut microbiota could be related to the immune system, ACE2 pathway, and metformin treatment. There were suggestions but no proof supporting probiotics benefits for COVID-19 infection. CONCLUSION The data suggested that the host environment including the gut microbiota could play a role for COVID-19 in patients with diabetes. It is a challenge to the scientific community to investigate the beneficial potential of the gut microbiota for strengthening host defense against coronavirus in patients with diabetes.
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The Effect of Probiotic Yogurt on Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes or Obesity: A Meta-Analysis of Nine Randomized Controlled Trials.
Barengolts, E, Smith, ED, Reutrakul, S, Tonucci, L, Anothaisintawee, T
Nutrients. 2019;11(3)
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Plain language summary
The metabolic disorders type 2 diabetes and obesity are highly prevalent worldwide. There are multiple merging treatments for type 2 diabetes and obesity, but the management of both conditions remains challenging. The aim of the study was to review the effects of probiotics on glycaemic outcomes in type 2 diabetes or obesity. The study is a meta-analysis of RCTs that utilized probiotic yoghurt as a main intervention in participants with type 2 diabetes or obesity. Nine studies were included in the meta-analysis, seven of which were conducted in subjects with type 2 diabetes and the rest were conducted in subjects with obesity. Results indicate that probiotic yoghurt provides no significant improvement compared with the control in glycaemic markers. Authors conclude that their study did not demonstrate the benefits of consuming probiotic yoghurt compared with conventional yoghurt for improving glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes or obesity.
Abstract
Probiotic yogurt is suggested as a nutritional approach in type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of probiotic yogurt on glycemic outcomes in T2D or obesity. The databases used to search for RCTs included Medline and Scopus. The RCTs were eligible if outcomes included selected glycemic markers. In nine eligible trials, 237 and 235 subjects were in treatment (probiotic yogurt) and control (mostly conventional yogurt) groups, respectively. There was no significant difference for pooled unstandardized mean difference (USMD) hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) by probiotic yogurt compared with the control in T2D (USMD: -0.366; 95% CI: -0.755, 0.024, p = 0.066) and obesity (USMD: 0.116, 95% CI: -0.007, 0.238, p = 0.065). Similarly, there were no effects of probiotic yogurt on fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, or insulin resistance (estimated by homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)) in either T2D or obesity. In conclusion, the present meta-analysis has not demonstrated the benefits of consuming probiotic compared with conventional yogurt for improving glucose control in patients with diabetes or obesity. Larger trials are needed to verify the benefits of probiotic and/or conventional yogurt or other probiotic fermented milk (e.g., kefir) on glycemic markers in patients with diabetes and obesity.
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Decision making.
Smith, ED
Clinical journal of oncology nursing. 2003;(2 Suppl):28-32