Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are organic fatty acids produced in the distal gut by bacterial fermentation of macrofibrous material. SCFAs play an important role in health and disease. They may reduce the risk of inflammatory diseases, type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease and other conditions.

Aims: to examine the effectivenessof glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 receptor agonist and prebiotic treatment on SCFAs, carbohydrate metabolism in patients with carbohydrate metabolism violation.

Materials and methods: In study were enrolled 19 patients with carbohydrate metabolism violation. The mean age of patients was 47 (30–60) years old. The levels of SCFAs, serum fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and body mass index (BMI) were examined at baseline and at 12 weeks on therapy.

Results: At baseline the average glucose levels were 7,31 [5,6; 15,2] mmol/l, HbA1c – 7,2 [4,9; 9,9]%; and BMI – 39,8 [32,1; 51,0] kg/m². Significant positive relationship between acetate and HbA1c (r(s) = 0.34; P = 0.022), propionate and glucose (r(s) = 0.2, P = 0.034), and negative relationship between butyrate and BMI (r(s) = −0.36, P = 0.017) were revealed at baseline. Patients in the GLP-1 and prebiotic therapy groups had a significant decrease in BMI, HbA1c and acetate after 12 weeks, with the mean decrease being 5.1 [1.4; 9.7] kg/m², 2.7 [1.0; 3.1]%; 2.34 [1.4; 2.9] mg/g (P < 0.01), respectively. After therapy significant increase the level of butyrate: +0.6 [0.3; 0.6] mg/g (P < 0.01).

Conclusions: The preliminary results are indicating a positive effect of GLP-1 and prebiotic therapy on weight, carbohydrate metabolism and short-chain fatty acids in patients with carbohydrate metabolism violation.