Influence of probiotics on the metabolic control of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a literature review

Abstract

Introduction: the implementation of probiotics in the treatment of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) could result in a new adjuvant therapy to accompany conventional treatment through their action on the human gut microbiota.

Objective: to analyze the available scientific evidence regarding the influence of probiotic implementation on metabolic control in adults with T2DM.

Materials and method: a literature review was carried out using various databases. The search was conducted through Medline (PubMed), SciELO, and the Virtual Health Library from April to June 2023.

Results: a total of 1,378 articles were identified, of which 16 met the inclusion criteria and were selected for analysis. Probiotic use was associated with improvements in several metabolic parameters, including glycemic, lipid, inflammatory markers and body composition. The implementation of genera such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium stood out as the main mediators in the reduction of these variables.

Conclusion: this literature review suggests that probiotic supplementation may positively influence metabolic control in adults with T2DM. The Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genera showed greater efficacy when administered together.