Diabetes is a metabolic condition. The composition of the gut microbiota is altered in diabetes with reduced levels of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) producers, notably butyrate. Butyrate is associated with a number of beneficial effects including promoting the integrity of the gastrointestinal barrier. Diabetes may lead to an increase in the permeability of the gut barrier, which is thought to contribute to systemic inflammation and worsen the microvascular complications of diabetes. Prebiotics, non-digestible carbohydrates, are fermented by the colonic microbiota leading to the production of a range of metabolites including SCFAs. Thus, prebiotics represent a dietary approach to increase levels of microbially produced SCFAs and improve intestinal permeability in diabetes. Whether prebiotics can lead to a reduction in the risk of developing diabetes complications in individuals with type 2 diabetes needs to be explored.

糖尿病是一种代谢性疾病。肠道微生物群的组成在糖尿病中发生改变，短链脂肪酸 (SCFA) 生产者的水平降低，尤其是丁酸盐。丁酸盐具有许多有益作用，包括促进胃肠道屏障的完整性。糖尿病可能导致肠道屏障通透性增加，这被认为会导致全身炎症并加重糖尿病的微血管并发症。益生元，即不易消化的碳水化合物，由结肠微生物群发酵，导致产生一系列代谢物，包括短链脂肪酸。因此，益生元代表了一种增加微生物产生的 SCFA 水平和改善糖尿病肠道通透性的饮食方法。