Prebiotics for Health: Investigation of Mechanisms of Action of a Specific Prebiotic to Improve Gut & Metabolic Health

Supervisory team: Dr Alexandra Johnstone (http://www.abdn.ac.uk/staffnet/profiles/alex.johnstone/) and Dr Karen Scott (http://www.abdn.ac.uk/staffnet/profiles/k.scott/)

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with gastrointestinal dysbiosis involving both compositional and functional changes in the gut microbiome. Changes in diet and supplementation with probiotics and prebiotics (i.e. fermentable fibers) can induce favourable changes in gut bacterial species and improve glucose homeostasis through the food-gut axix. Although limited, the existing data strongly suggest that the gut microbiota affect glucose homeostasis. Possible mechanisms linking the gut microbiota to glucose homeostasis may include increased intestinal permeability, low-grade endotoxemia, changes in the production of short chain fatty acids or branched-chain amino acids, alterations in bile acid metabolism, and/or effects on the secretion of gut hormones. A better understanding of the mechanisms linking the gut microbiome to glucose metabolism, and the relevant compositional and functional characteristics of the gut microbiome, will help direct future research to develop more targeted dietary approaches, probiotic and/or prebiotic supplements, or novel compounds aimed at restoring a more healthy gut microbiome as a new approach to prevent and treat Type 2 diabetes mellitus. We will investigate the role of change in diet through prebiotic as a diet trial and in-vitro studies.