Double-blinded, randomized clinical trial of Gegen Qinlian decoction pinpoints Faecalibacterium as key gut bacteria in alleviating hyperglycemia

作者：Zezheng Gao, Wenhui Zhang, Lisha He, Han Wang, Yufei Li, Xiaotian Jiang, Sha D I, Xinmiao Wang, Xuan Zhang, Lin Han, Yanwen Liu, Chengjuan Gu, Mengyi Wu, Xinhui He, Lei Cheng, Jun Wang, Xiaolin Tong, Linhua Zhao · 发表于：Precision Clinical Medicine · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1093/pcmedi/pbae003 · 被引用次数：25 · 研究领域：Gut microbiota and health、Berberine and alkaloids research、Traditional Chinese Medicine Studies

Abstract Background Accumulating evidence suggests that metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), can be treated with traditional Chinese medicine formulas, such as the Gegen Qinlian decoction (GQD). This study elucidates the mechanisms by which gut microbes mediate the anti-diabetic effects of GQD. Methods We conducted a double-blind randomized clinical trial involving 120 untreated participants with T2DM. During the 12-week intervention, anthropometric measurements and diabetic traits were recorded every 4 weeks. Fecal microbiota and serum metabolites were measured before and after the intervention using 16S rDNA sequencing, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and Bio-Plex panels. Results Anti-diabetic effects were observed in the GQD group in the human trial. Specifically, glycated hemoglobin, fasting plasma glucose, and two-hour postprandial blood glucose levels were significantly lower in the GQD group than in the placebo group. Additionally, Faecalibacterium was significantly enriched in the GQD group, and the short-chain fatty acid levels were higher and the serum inflammation-associated marker levels were lower in the GQD group compared to the placebo group. Moreover, Faecalibacterium abundance negatively correlated with the levels of serum hemoglobin, fasting plasma glucose, and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Finally, the diabetes-alleviating effect of Faecalibacterium was confirmed by oral administration of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (DSMZ ...