Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that live in the digestive tracts. Probiotic supplements have been popular for decades, and probiotic-containing foods, such as yogurt, kefir and probiotic milk, have been around for centuries. Over the last 5 to 10 years, research on probiotics has increased significantly.

Adding to that research, two new, unrelated studies published last month hint that probiotics may play a role in combating diabetes. One study has found that the intestinal microflora (bacteria that live in the digestive tract) are substantially altered in diabetics compared to health individuals.¹

A second study has found that women who take probiotics during pregnancy have significantly lower odds of developing gestational diabetes, giving them and their offspring a lower risk of developing type-2 diabetes, and giving their children a lower risk of childhood obesity.²

The first study regarding the diabetes and microflora builds on previous research that has linked microflora with obesity. A groundbreaking 2006 study published in the prestigious journal Nature found that the microflora in the gut of obese people was different than those of lean people. Additionally, the study found that as the obese people lost weight, the composition of microflora shifted, and more closely resembled that of the lean individuals.³ The study opened the possibility that altering gut microflora, increasing certain beneficial bacteria, could have potential as a component of weight management. A 2007 study involving insects, found that altering gut microbes could induce metabolic syndrome, often a precursor to diabetes.⁴

The researchers stated that "assuming that diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance are linked to obesity, our results are in agreement with the recent evidence obtained for overweight persons." They went on to conclude that "the results of this study indicate that type 2 diabetes in humans is associated with compositional changes in intestinal microbiota. The level of glucose tolerance should be considered when linking microbiota with metabolic diseases such as obesity and developing strategies to control metabolic diseases by modifying the gut microbiota."

In the second study, which involved use of probiotics by pregnant women, Finnish researchers recruited 256 women in their first trimester of pregnancy. The women were randomly split into two groups. The first acted as a control group, while the second group was given "intensive dietary counseling" provided by a nutritionist and either a placebo or a daily probiotic supplement.

At the end of the 24-month study, the women's outcomes were analyzed. The lowest rate of gestational diabetes was among the women who received the dietary counseling and the probiotics, at just 13%. This was far lower than the women who received just dietary counseling, with 36% gestational diabetes, and the control group, which had 34% gestational diabetes. Additionally, there were no reports of adverse effects and there were no differences in the duration of the pregnancies.

The researchers concluded that "the results of the present study show that probiotic-supplemented perinatal dietary counseling could be a safe and cost-effective tool in addressing the metabolic epidemic."

Undoubtedly there needs to be much more research conducted before we understand the full impact that probiotics and intestinal microflora may have on our health. But as we are learning with each new study, internal bacteria play a very large role in our overall health.

Recent research has found that probiotics may do much, much more for our bodies: helping to boost the immune system, improving the complexion, aiding in healing skin cuts and burns, improving liver health, possibly reducing the incidence of yeast infections, and perhaps even benefiting cholesterol levels.

Learn more about probiotics here.

1. Larsen, N., F. K. Vogensen, et al. (2010). "Gut microbiota in human adults with type 2 diabetes differs from non-diabetic adults." PLoS One 5(2): e9085.

2. Luoto, R., K. Laitinen, et al. (2010). "Impact of maternal probiotic-supplemented dietary counselling on pregnancy outcome and prenatal and postnatal growth: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study." Br J Nutr: 1-8.

3. Ley, R. E., P. J. Turnbaugh, et al. (2006). "Microbial ecology: human gut microbes associated with obesity." Nature 444(7122): 1022-3.

4. Schilder, R. J. and J. H. Marden (2007). "Metabolic syndrome in insects triggered by gut microbes." J Diabetes Sci Technol 1(5): 794-6.