The impact of probiotics on the health-related quality of life of people with Type 2 diabetes

Researchers at the Sri Adichunchanagiri College of Pharmacy in India analyzed the impact of probiotics on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with Type 2 diabetes. Their findings were published in the Journal of Natural Science, Biology and Medicine.

• For this prospective, interventional, single-blind, randomized study, the researchers randomly assigned 80 diabetics to two groups.
• The interventional group received probiotic capsules while the control group received placebo capsules.
• The study lasted for three months and evaluation of the patients’ HRQOL were conducted at 0, six and 12 weeks.
• The researchers reported that 75 out of the 80 participants completed the study.
• Probiotic supplementation had a positive effect on blood glucose markers, such as fasting blood sugar, postprandial blood sugar, homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance and serum insulin.
• The improvements in these markers had a significant influence on the HRQOL of patients.
• While gender did not affect the HRQOL of diabetics, age had a significant influence.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that probiotics can improve the HRQOL of patients with Type 2 diabetes by decreasing their blood sugar and increasing their insulin sensitivity.

Read the full study at this link.

Journal Reference:

Venkataraman R, Jose P, Jose J. IMPACT OF PROBIOTICS ON HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN TYPE II DIABETES MELLITUS: A RANDOMIZED SINGLE-BLIND, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED STUDY. Journal of Natural Science, Biology and Medicine. February 4 2019;10(1):2. DOI: 10.4103/jnsbm.jnsbm_31_18