Exploratory study of the most abundant phyla in the gut microbiota of type 1 diabetic patients classified by HbA1c level

Authors

  • Melina Saban British Hospital of Buenos Aires, City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Glenda Ernst National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Marina Curriá British Hospital, City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Mara Roxana Rubinstein Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina (UCA), City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47196/diab.v59i3.1274

Keywords:

type 1 diabetes mellitus, microbiota, glycemic control

Abstract

Introduction: type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is characterized by the destruction of the pancreatic β-cells. The microbiota is the group of microorganisms (commensals, symbionts and pathogens) that colonize our organism. Recently, the involvement of microbiota in diabetes and a different microbial composition in T1D patients with good glycemic control vs those without has been described. On the other hand, most of the microbiota studies were performed in industrialized countries, showing a lack of data from our country.

Objectives: a cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the microbial composition by studying the most abundant phyla in patients with DM1 according to their HbA1c levels and in control individuals from the metropolitan area of ​​Buenos Aires.

Materials and methods: non-obese volunteers with or without T1D over 18 years of age were recruited at the Endocrinology, Metabolism, Nutrition and Diabetes Service of Hospital Británico, Buenos Aires. Demographic variables, laboratory data and anthropometric measurements were obtained, and a stool sample was submitted. Microbial composition was determined by real-time PCR using primers specific to the most abundant phyla of the microbiota.

Results: the results showed higher levels of Actinobacteria in the diabetic group with poor glycemic control (p<0.05), with no significant changes in the levels of Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. Similarly, when analyzing the correlation between the results and HbA1c levels in individuals with T1D, positive correlations were found with Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria and negative correlation with the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio.

Conclusions: there are alterations in the microbiota in patients with T1D and we have established relationships between microbiota and HbA1c in T1D patients. According to the literature, similar results have been obtained in studies conducted in other populations.

Author Biographies

Melina Saban, British Hospital of Buenos Aires, City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Endocrinologist, Staff of the Endocrinology, Metabolism, Nutrition and Diabetes Service, British Hospital of Buenos Aires, Scientific Review Committee

Glenda Ernst, National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

University Doctor, Scientific Review Committee, British Hospital of Buenos Aires, Independent Researcher

Marina Curriá, British Hospital, City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

University Doctor, Endocrinologist, Head of the Endocrinology, Metabolism, Nutrition and Diabetes Service

Mara Roxana Rubinstein, Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina (UCA), City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

PhD, Psychoneuroendocrinoimmunology Laboratory, Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET)

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2025-10-27

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Vol. 59 No. 3 (2025): September-December 2025

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Original article

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