Pilot study on gut microbiota profile in Indian children with type 1 diabetes

Background: Non-genetic factors like microbial dysbiosis may be contributing to the increasing incidence/progression of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Objectives: To analyse the gut microbiota profile in Indian children with T1DM and its effect on glycaemic control. Methodology: Faecal samples of 29 children with T1DM were collected and faecal microbial DNA was extracted and subjected to 16S rRNA (ribosomal RNA) sequencing and further analysis. Results: The dominant phyla in children with T1DM were Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. Butyrate-producing bacteria Blautia and Ruminococcus showed a significant negative correlation with the glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1C) levels (p < 0.05). Coprococcus and Propionibacterium were important negative predictors of glycaemic control (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our study suggests that Indian children with T1DM have a distinct gut microbiome taxonomic composition and that short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria like Ruminococcus and Blautia (butyrate-producing) may play an important role in the glycaemic control of subjects with T1DM.