Pilot Study on Gut Microbiota Profile in Indian Children with Type 1 Diabetes.

BACKGROUND

Non-genetic factors like microbial dysbiosis may be contributing to the increasing incidence/progression of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

OBJECTIVES

To analyse the gut microbiota profile in Indian children with T1DM and its effect on glycaemic control.

METHODOLOGY: Faecal samples of 29 children with T1DM were collected and faecal microbial DNA was extracted and subjected to 16S rRNA (ribosomal RNA) sequencing and further analysis.

RESULTS

The dominant phyla in children with T1DM were Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. Butyrate-producing bacteria Blautia and Ruminococcus showed a significant negative correlation with the glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1C) levels (p < 0.05). Coprococcus and Propionibacterium were important negative predictors of glycaemic control (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that Indian children with T1DM have a distinct gut microbiome taxonomic composition and that short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria like Ruminococcus and Blautia (butyrate-producing) may play an important role in the glycaemic control of subjects with T1DM.