The drug promotes the growth of probiotic bacteria and producers of short chain fatty acids.
The results of a study led by Xinhua Xiao, a researcher at the Beijing University Hospital, indicate that Liraglutida, a drug commonly used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes (DT2), induces favorable changes in the intestinal flora in an animal modelof the disease.
In the examination of the microbiota of normal rats and likely to develop diabetes, treated with liraglutida or without treating, it was observed that in the latter group there was a reduction both in the number and in microbial diversity.
The Liraglutida administration avoided the development of diabetes and selectively promoted the growth of short -chain fat producing microorganisms.
The pyrosecuenciation of certain gene regions that encode subunits of the bacterial RNA revealed the presence of 879 operational taxonomic units in treated animals, with the presence of bacteroids and lachnospiraceas, as well as probiotics such as bifidobacterium.The abundance of lactobacilos was negatively correlated with fasting glycemia.
Qian Zhang, assistant professor at the aforementioned center and co-author of the study, affirms that there seems to be a correlation between the benefit of the treatment and the restoration of the flora.
Steven R. Goodman, editor in chief of the magazine that has published the results, indicates that the work constitutes a clear demonstration of advantage in an approved drug for this indication.