Validation of a new antidiabetic food concept targeting the gut microbiota composition

Validation of a novel pro- and synbiotic concept based on increasing the abundance of gut Prevotella to contribute to prevention of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease

This project explores new knowledge regarding the association between the gut microbiota and metabolism, aiming at developing unique gut flora modulatory concepts with cardiometabolic benefits. Thus, in healthy subjects intake of specific barley products improved glucose homeostasis, lowered inflammation, and increased gut hormones involved in metabolic- and appetite regulation. Benefits were associated with a prebiotic mechanism and an increased gut abundance of Prevotella Copri (PC). A causal relationship between PC and benefits on glucose metabolism was shown in mice following oral supplementation, indicating a probiotic potential. Humans with low abundance of PC failed to respond beneficially to the prebiotic food (non-responders). Key activities in the project is to validate different aspects of PC of importance when judging the bacteria as a potential probiotics