Fiber2026-05

Effect of prebiotic intervention on glycemic control and gut microbiome profile in Indian children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM): a pilot randomised control trial.

Tamahane Vaishali, Shah Nikhil, Kajale Neha, Khadilkar Anuradha et al. — Endocrine

Summary

This pilot study investigated how a prebiotic supplement affected gut bacteria and blood sugar in Indian children with type 1 diabetes. While it didn't immediately improve blood sugar control, the prebiotics successfully increased beneficial gut bacteria known to produce compounds important for health. This suggests potential long-term benefits for these children.

AI-generated summary — read the original

Key points

A pilot study examined the impact of a prebiotic supplement on children with type 1 diabetes.
The intervention aimed to influence both gut bacteria composition and blood sugar control.
Prebiotics significantly increased beneficial gut bacteria, but blood sugar levels did not change immediately.
This suggests potential long-term metabolic and immune benefits, warranting further research.

What the study looked at

### What question the study asked: Researchers wanted to know if giving prebiotics, a type of dietary fiber, to children with type 1 diabetes could improve their blood sugar control and change the types of bacteria living in their gut. ### How it was studied (design/participants): This was a small, randomized controlled trial involving 68 Indian children aged 8 to 18 who had type 1 diabetes. For 12 weeks, half received a daily supplement of oligofructose-enriched inulin (a prebiotic), while the other half received a placebo. Neither the participants nor the researchers knew who was getting which supplement. They measured blood sugar control (HbA1c) and analyzed stool samples for gut bacteria changes at the beginning and end of the study. ### What it found: The study found that while the prebiotic supplement did not significantly change blood sugar levels (HbA1c) over the 12 weeks, it did lead to a notable increase in several types of beneficial gut bacteria. These bacteria are known for producing short-chain fatty acids, which are thought to play a role in metabolism and immune health. No serious side effects were reported.

Dietary takeaway

While this single study didn't show immediate changes in blood sugar, it highlights how prebiotics can positively alter gut bacteria in children with type 1 diabetes. Including natural prebiotic-rich foods like onions, garlic, bananas, and whole grains in daily diets could be a simple way to support a healthy gut microbiome, though more research is needed to confirm long-term benefits for diabetes management. Remember, one study alone is not definitive proof.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is increasingly associated with gut microbial dysbiosis. Emerging evidence suggests that short-chain fatty acids(SCFA) producing bacteria play a role in glucose regulation and immune modulation. However, interventional data in children remain limited. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of an oligofructose-enriched inulin intervention on glycemic control and gut microbiome composition in Indian children with T1DM. METHODS: In double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled pilot trial, 68-children (8-18years) with established T1DM were allocated to receive either 8 g/day of oligofructose-enriched inulin or an isocaloric maltodextrin placebo for 12 weeks. Anthropometry, glycated-hemoglobin (HbA1c), and stool-microbiome-profiles (16SrRNA sequencing) were assessed at baseline and endline. Alpha and beta-diversity indices, differential abundance analyses(DESeq2), were compared between groups. RESULTS: Sixty-one participants (32 prebiotic, 29 placebo) completed the study with a mean compliance of 80%. Baseline characteristics and HbA1c levels were comparable between groups. No significant difference in HbA1c was observed after intervention (prebiotic 9.8 ± 1.4% vs. placebo 10.6 ± 2.5%; p > 0.05). However, the prebiotic group demonstrated a significant enrichment of SCFA-producing taxa, including Intestinibacter, Lachnospiraceae_UCG004, Megasphaera, Prevotella_2, and Agathobacter(p < 0.05). Families such as Lachnospiraceae, Bifidobacteriaceae, Ruminococcaceae, Atopobiaceae and Akkermensiaceae were increased significantly, while alpha- and beta-diversity indices remained stable. No significant adverse events were reported apart from isolated mild hypoglycemic episodes. CONCLUSIONS: Prebiotics intervention modulated beneficial gut bacteria(SCFA-producing) without any change in glycemic control, suggesting possible long-term metabolic and anti-inflammatory benefits in T1DM. Larger studies are needed. Adding natural prebiotic-rich foods to daily diets of children with T1DM could be a simple, affordable.

View on PubMed →DOI: 10.1007/s12020-026-04657-w