ZOE Research Identifies Gut Microbiome Differences Linked to Type 2 Diabetes Risk
New research conducted by ZOE scientists, in collaboration with the University of Trento, has identified significant differences in the gut microbiome that are associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The study, which analyzed data from 229,025 individuals in the UK and the US, found nearly 800 gut bacteria species linked to type 2 diabetes. Of these, 168 were more abundant and 621 were less abundant in individuals with the condition. Crucially, these microbial changes were detectable even before the onset of type 2 diabetes, including in individuals with prediabetes and those with healthy blood glucose control but a family history of the disease. The findings suggest that the gut microbiome could serve as an early indicator for type 2 diabetes risk, independent of factors like age, sex, BMI, or geographical location. The research also noted that while diabetes medications like metformin influence the gut microbiome, the observed differences were present even in individuals not taki...
