Antidiabetic effects of multi-species probiotic and its fermented milk in mice via restoring gut microbiota and intestinal barrier

Probiotic is a promising nutritional intervention for the prevention and alleviation of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). In this study, the remission potential of a multi-species probiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 and Streptococcus thermophilus ST447) and its fermented yoghurt on the symptoms of high fat diet and streptozotocin induced T2DM mice were investigated, and the underlying mechanisms were elucidated. Multi-species probiotic and probiotic yoghurt elicited similar but varying efficacy in decreasing the body weight loss, improving organ weight, glucose tolerance and insulin resistance, regulating the levels of blood glucose, HbA1c, insulin and lipid as well as protecting the pancreatic islets. Their tangible antidiabetic effects may be ascribed to the mutual promotion between the repair of the intestinal barrier/permeability and the optimization of gut microbiota structure. Furthermore, the intestinal flora-short chain fatty acids-intestinal hormones/inflammatory pathway was activated and thereby conferring healthy benefits to the host. This proposed probiotic combination appears to provide a viable approach to alleviate T2DM.