The Impact of Probiotics on Glucose Metabolism and Intestinal Barrier Function in Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

With the global aging process accelerating, the prevalence of elderly Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus has increased significantly. There are approximately 35 million elderly Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients in China aged over 65. The imbalance of intestinal flora (decrease in probiotics and increase in conditional pathogens) and intestinal barrier damage in these patients deteriorate the disease through a “flora-barrier-metabolism” vicious circle. However, systematic reviews of probiotics targeting this population are still lacking. This study explores the effects of probiotics on elderly Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients systematically. The results show that probiotics can improve glycometabolic indicators (such as fasting blood glucose and insulin resistance) by constructing an intestinal mucosal barrier and regulating the activity of enzymes related to glucose and lipid metabolism. They can also optimize the intestinal flora structure by increasing the content of short-chain fatty acids and repair the intestinal barrier by promoting the secretion of mucin MUC2 to increase the mucus layer. There are limitations such as significant strain specificity and unclear optimal dosage and combination. In the future, large-sample trials combined with multi-omics technology are needed to provide a basis for precise microecological intervention.