Gut molecule shows remarkable anti-diabetes power

LONDON: Researchers from Imperial College London have discovered a compound produced by gut bacteria that can protect the body from type 2 diabetes.
The study showed that trimethylamine (TMA), a small molecule produced by gut microbes as they break down choline found in eggs and meat, may play a vital role in improving insulin response and suppressing inflammation, two factors that reduce the risk of developing diabetes.
The researchers explained that trimethylamine is able to mitigate the effects of high-fat diets on the body, according to experiments conducted on human cell models and laboratory mice. This microbial metabolite appears to break some of the links between obesity, diabetes and low-grade chronic inflammation.
'We have shown that a molecule from gut microbes can protect the body from damage caused by malnutrition through a novel mechanism,' said Mark-Emmanuel Dumas, a biochemist at Imperial College London.
The researchers pointed out that TMA works by inhibiting the IRAK4 protein, which is responsible for an inflammatory response when eating fatty foods, and this mechanism may open the way for the development of drugs that mimic the effect of TMA and reduce inflammation resulting from an unhealthy diet.
Although the results are still in their early stages and require further clinical trials on humans, they enhance the scientific understanding of the pivotal role that the gut microbiome plays in regulating vital processes and preventing chronic diseases. - Agencies