Vitamin K2 and its role in diabetes treatment: influence on intestinal microbiota?
- Article
- 2023-10-20
In type 2 diabetics, vitamin K2 can reduce the level of fasting glucose, insulin and Hb1Ac. The study also shows that this vitamin causes changes in the composition of intestinal bacteria. This effect was further analyzed in mice, showing that the positive influence of vitamin K2 on diabetes is closely linked to the intestinal microbiota.
Thanks to vitamin K2, the intestinal microbiota of diabetics retained its diversity better than that of the control group. After twelve months, a relationship was found in all test subjects between the vitamin K level and the balance between certain bacterial groups, namely firmicutes and bacteroides.
The researchers also identified other changes in the intestinal microbiota, which they attributed to a strengthening of this bacterial network by vitamin K2. They argue that a robust gut microbiota can be an indicator of good health. It is striking that the effects appear to be mainly mediated by specific metabolites, and less by the composition of the microbiota itself.
The analysis showed that vitamin K2 increased the presence of certain substances in the feces. These substances, secondary bile acids and short-chain fatty acids, were identified for the first time in this context. They may be the link between vitamin K2 intake and improved insulin sensitivity.
The researchers tested this further in mice by providing them with a gut microbiota transplant from other mice that had been given vitamin K2. This improved their insulin sensitivity, even without direct intake of vitamin K2. This suggests that intestinal bacteria are crucial for influencing glucose balance.
In the experiment, the obese mice were given 50 mcg of MK7 per kilogram of body weight, which is relatively low for animal studies. In humans, 90 mcg of MK7 was administered via yogurt, while the control group received yogurt without MK7. This yogurt would not only help with the absorption of the vitamin, but also provide an effective blind test. This clinical phase of the study, conducted in China, lasted six months.
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