Galacto-oligosaccharides ameliorate dysbiotic Bifidobacteriaceae decline in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes

Gut microbiota affects the host’s metabolism, and it is suggested that there are differences in gut microbiota composition between patients with type 2 diabetes and healthy individuals. Additionally, dysbiosis may increase the concentration of lipopolysaccharides (LPS), causing metabolic endotoxemia, which induces impaired glucose tolerance. Several studies have reported relationships between metabolic diseases and the gut microbiota; and prebiotics, such as oligosaccharides, are commonly consumed to regulate gut microbiotas in healthy individuals. Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are a major prebiotic, which specifically increase Bifidobacteriaceae abundance. Recent studies have reported that Bifidobacteriaceae improved metabolic endotoxemia or impaired glucose tolerance. However, there are few studies reporting the effects of GOS on patients with type 2 diabetes. In the current study, we compared clinical parameters, faecal gut microbiota, their associated metabolic products and their components such as L...