Scientists in the Step from Understanding the Causes of Diabetes
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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People with type 2 diabetes are 90% of all cases of this disease. Mostly it develops in people older than 40 years, but now there is a steady tendency to "rejuvenate" the disease and its victims are people of middle or young age.
The results of a new study of scientists suggest that in the intestines of people with type 2 diabetes, there are more pathogenic bacteria.
Experts analyzed more than 60 thousand bacterial markers in healthy people and those who have diabetes of the second type.
This discovery makes it possible to state that scientists, in this case from the University of Copenhagen, make tremendous progress in the development of a relatively new branch of science - metagenomics (a section of molecular genetics that studies genetic material that is obtained directly from samples).
The fact that there are more pathogens in the intestine of a diabetic patient does not mean that they are the cause of the disease. This means that the number of harmful microorganisms can indicate that a person is sick.
This discovery can help in the future develop early and rapid diagnosis of metabolic diseases.
"In the intestine of every person are hundreds of bacteria that affect health. However, if their balance is broken, problems arise, "says Professor Jun Wang of Copenhagen University.
Experts say that an increased amount of pathogenic bacteria in the intestines of people with a second type of diabetes can lead to resistance to various medications.
Dr. Wang and his colleagues conducted a study of intestinal bacteria in 345 Chinese, 171 of whom are suffering from type 2 diabetes. Researchers have identified biological indicators of their condition.
People with diabetes had a more hostile intestinal microflora.
The next stage of research of scientists involves the transplantation of intestinal bacteria of people suffering from diabetes, mice. Experts will try to find out whether these microorganisms can be the cause of the disease, or, nevertheless, this is only its consequence.