Fecal microbiota transplantation as a potential therapeutic approach to improve impaired glucose tolerance via gut microbiota modulation in rat model

Zeel Bhatia; Sunny Kumar; Sriram Seshadri

doi:10.1007/s40200-024-01518-z

Fecal microbiota transplantation as a potential therapeutic approach to improve impaired glucose tolerance via gut microbiota modulation in rat model

J Diabetes Metab Disord. 2024 Dec 28;24(1):28. doi: 10.1007/s40200-024-01518-z. eCollection 2025 Jun.

Authors

Zeel Bhatia¹, Sunny Kumar¹, Sriram Seshadri¹

Affiliation

¹ Institute of Science, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 382481 India.

PMID: 39735176
PMCID: PMC11680516 (available on 2025-12-28)
DOI: 10.1007/s40200-024-01518-z

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the impact of diet-induced gut microbiota alterations on type 2 diabetes and assess the therapeutic potential of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) in restoring a balanced gut microenvironment.

Methods: To induce type 2 diabetes, rats were fed a high-sugar high-fat diet (HSFD) for 90 days. After diabetes induction, animals were divided into an HSFD control group, a metformin group (100 mg/kg), and an FMT group (100 mg/kg), receiving treatment for an additional 90 days. Fasting blood glucose levels, glucose tolerance, serum markers (HbA1C, free fatty acids, lipopolysaccharides, pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines), and gut microbiota profiles via cecal metagenome sequencing were analyzed post-treatment.

Results: FMT effectively restored gut microbiota composition to a profile similar to healthy controls, rebalancing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and increasing beneficial taxa, including Prevotella ruminicola, Akkermansia muciniphila, Roseburia, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. These microbial shifts corresponded with significant metabolic improvements: FMT reduced inflammatory markers (LPS and FFA), lowered HbA1c, and improved glucose tolerance. Enhanced gut barrier integrity observed in FMT-treated animals likely contributed to reduced endotoxemia and systemic inflammation, distinguishing FMT's metabolic effects from those of metformin. Notably, FMT addressed the dysbiosis associated with HSFD, promoting microbial resilience and mitigating the metabolic disruptions linked to type 2 diabetes.

Conclusion: These findings underscore the potential of FMT as a targeted therapeutic approach to modulate gut microbiota composition and mitigate metabolic dysregulation induced by high sugar high fat diet.

Keywords: Fecal microbiota transplantation; Gut microbiota; Inflammation; Lipopolysaccharide; Type 2 diabetes.

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