Hormonal
Higher gut microbial alpha diversity (Shannon index and richness) and a higher abundance of specific butyrate-producing bacterial taxa are associated with lower insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and a lower prevalence of type 2 diabetes.
Maintaining a diverse gut microbiome, particularly one rich in butyrate-producing bacteria, is linked to better insulin sensitivity and a lower risk of Type 2 Diabetes. While this study is observational, it suggests that dietary strategies supporting microbial diversity (often associated with high-fiber, plant-rich diets) may support metabolic health.
In this cross-sectional study, higher microbiome α diversity, along with more butyrate-producing gut bacteria, was associated with less type 2 diabetes and with lower insulin resistance among individuals without diabetes.
Why this rating
Large population-based cohorts (n=2166) with rigorous adjustment for confounders (BMI, lifestyle, meds), but the design is cross-sectional, preventing causal inference.
Source
Association of Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes With Gut Microbial Diversity
Zhangling Chen et al. · JAMA Network Open · 2021
DOI 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.18811
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