Pharmaceutics (Apr 2023)

<i>Pediococcus acidilactici</i> pA1c<sup>®</sup> Improves the Beneficial Effects of Metformin Treatment in Type 2 Diabetes by Controlling Glycaemia and Modulating Intestinal Microbiota

  • Miriam Cabello-Olmo,
  • María Oneca,
  • Raquel Urtasun,
  • María J. Pajares,
  • Saioa Goñi,
  • José I. Riezu-Boj,
  • Fermín I. Milagro,
  • Josune Ayo,
  • Ignacio J. Encio,
  • Miguel Barajas,
  • Miriam Araña

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15041203
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 4
p. 1203

Abstract

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Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a complex metabolic disease, which involves maintained hyperglycemia, mainly due to the development of an insulin resistance process. Metformin administration is the most prescribed treatment for diabetic patients. In a previously published study, we demonstrated that Pediococcus acidilactici pA1c® (pA1c) protects from insulin resistance and body weight gain in HFD-induced diabetic mice. The present work aimed to evaluate the possible beneficial impact of a 16-week administration of pA1c, metformin, or the combination of pA1c and metformin in a T2D HFD-induced mice model. We found that the simultaneous administration of both products attenuated hyperglycemia, increased high-intensity insulin-positive areas in the pancreas and HOMA-β, decreased HOMA-IR and also provided more beneficial effects than metformin treatment (regarding HOMA-IR, serum C-peptide level, liver steatosis or hepatic Fasn expression), and pA1c treatment (regarding body weight or hepatic G6pase expression). The three treatments had a significant impact on fecal microbiota and led to differential composition of commensal bacterial populations. In conclusion, our findings suggest that P. acidilactici pA1c® administration improved metformin beneficial effects as a T2D treatment, and it would be a valuable therapeutic strategy to treat T2D.

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