Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology

Volume 143, Issue 4, October 2012, Pages 913-916.e7
Gastroenterology

Original Research
Brief Report
Transfer of Intestinal Microbiota From Lean Donors Increases Insulin Sensitivity in Individuals With Metabolic Syndrome

https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2012.06.031Get rights and content

Alterations in intestinal microbiota are associated with obesity and insulin resistance. We studied the effects of infusing intestinal microbiota from lean donors to male recipients with metabolic syndrome on the recipients' microbiota composition and glucose metabolism. Subjects were assigned randomly to groups that were given small intestinal infusions of allogenic or autologous microbiota. Six weeks after infusion of microbiota from lean donors, insulin sensitivity of recipients increased (median rate of glucose disappearance changed from 26.2 to 45.3 μmol/kg/min; P < .05) along with levels of butyrate-producing intestinal microbiota. Intestinal microbiota might be developed as therapeutic agents to increase insulin sensitivity in humans; www.trialregister.nl; registered at the Dutch Trial Register (NTR1776).

Section snippets

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Irene Lenoir–Wijnkoop, Remi Brazeilles, and Pascale Rondeau (Danone Research) for valuable comments on the protocol design and statistical analyses. Finally, the authors are grateful to Ineke Heikamp-de Jong, Philippe Puylaert, and Wilma Akkermans-van Vliet (Wageningen University) for excellent laboratory assistance.

References (15)

  • J. Qin

    Nature

    (2010)
  • P.J. Turnbaugh

    Nature

    (2006)
  • F. Backhed

    Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

    (2004)
  • R.S. Kootte

    Diabetes Obes Metab

    (2012)
  • S.H. Duncan

    Int J Obes (Lond)

    (2008)
  • P. Wang

    Nature

    (2008)
  • M. Langeveld

    J Clin Endocrinol Metab

    (2008)
There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (0)

Conflicts of interest The authors disclose no conflicts.

Funding Supported by an NWO-VENI grant 2008 (016.096.044 to M.N.), Netherlands Foundation for Cardiovascular Excellence (2008-5 to A.V.), an NWO-ZONMW VEMI grant (170881001 to E.v.N.), and an NWO-Spinoza grant 2008 (W.M.d.V.).

View full text