Probiotics for the treatment of type 2 diabetes: A review of randomized controlled trials
Abstract
With the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), there is increased interest in probiotic supplementation for improving glycaemic control. This review evaluates nine randomized controlled trials that tested the effects of probiotics on glycaemic outcomes including fasting plasma glucose, fasting plasma insulin, haemoglobin A1c, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance among adults with T2DM. Based on the evidence reviewed, multistrain probiotics that contain seven million to 100 billion colony forming units of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, and/or Bifidobacterium lactis administered for 6 to 12 weeks may be efficacious for improving glycaemic control in adults with T2DM. Further research is needed to understand the role of the gut microbiota and the probiotic dose, medium, and duration of exposure that is most effective for disease management.
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Consumption of probiotics can improve inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein) and glycemic control and insulin metabolism in patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome, including pregnant women with gestational diabetes.
“Studies also show that the consumption of probiotics can improve inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein) and glycemic control and insulin metabolism in patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome [143,144,145,146,147], including pregnant women with gestational diabetes [143,144].”
From The Potential Impact of Probiotics on Human Health: An Update on Their Health-Promoting Properties (2024) · cites this paper as [143]
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“…frequently administered for 12 weeks, and the strains commonly included Lactobacillus acidophilus/casei/rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium bifidum/longum/breve, and Streptococcus thermophilus, with nearly all randomized controlled trials incorporating Lactobacillus acidophilus in their probiotics [179].”
- Authors
- Tiderencel, K. A., Hutcheon, D. A., & Ziegler, J.
- Affiliations
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
- Corresponding author
- Tiderencel, Kelly A.
- Venue
- Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2019-09-12
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- e3213-e3213
- ISSN
- 1520-7552 (ISSN-L)
- 1520-7560
- OpenAlex
- W2970910367
- Cited by
- 82
- References
- 65
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 2
- FWCI
- 1.01
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Natural Antidiabetic Agents Studies
- Keywords
- probiotics, type 2 diabetes, glycemic control, insulin resistance, HbA1c, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis, multi-strain probiotics, gut microbiota, probiotic dosage
- MeSH terms
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Humans, Dietary Supplements, Probiotics
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