Diabetes, liver disease causes: Not weight or diet, it could be your gut bacteria, says new study

Diabetes causes: High blood sugar and fatty liver cause insulin resistance, and eventually, chronic disease (Image: Pexels)

Poor diet, lack of exercise, and excess weight have always been considered the common causes behind chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease. But a new study has uncovered a link between gut bacteria and these metabolic diseases.  This link has little to do with what you eat or how much you weigh. Instead, it centres on a rarely-discussed molecule made by gut microbes — one that may be fuelling illness from the inside out.

Researchers from McMaster University, Canada, have found that people and mice with obesity tend to have increased levels of a compound called D-lactate in their blood. This isn’t the same lactate your muscles produce during a tough workout — D-lactate is made almost entirely by gut bacteria.

Once produced, it doesn’t stay in the gut. It slips into the bloodstream. It then acts as an extra fuel for the liver. But instead of helping, it seems to push the liver into overdrive, causing it to churn out more glucose and fat than the body actually needs. High blood sugar and fatty liver cause insulin resistance, and eventually, chronic disease. “This is a completely new angle on how the gut and liver interact,” explains Professor Jonathan Schertzer, the lead author. “We’ve understood how our own cells handle fuel, but now it’s clear that bacteria in the gut play a  part, and they can give the wrong signals.”

Also read | 8 early symptoms of diabetes you should not ignore

Rather than trying to fix the liver or regulate hormones — the traditional approach to managing diabetes — the research team decided to go upstream. They created a biodegradable “gut trap” designed to bind with D-lactate directly in the gut before it could make its way into the bloodstream.

As a result, the gut trap, in mice, improved blood sugar, reduced liver fat and inflammation, and boosted insulin sensitivity. All without any change in diet or weight. “Just stopping this one molecule from getting through made a big difference,” said Schertzer. “We didn’t need to change what the mice ate,” he added.

This could mark the beginning of a whole new way of thinking about metabolic disorders. If gut bacteria are influencing sugar and fat production in the liver, then the gut becomes a viable — and perhaps even primary — target for treatment.

Also read | 8 proven strategies to reverse fatty liver for Optimal liver health

Though human trials are still on the horizon, this discovery adds to a growing body of evidence that suggests the gut does far more than just digest food. It communicates constantly with the rest of the body, and sometimes, its messages do more harm than good. In this case, your gut might be fuelling illness — without your knowledge, and without you ever changing your lifestyle.

FAQs on diabetes and fatty liver disease causes

1. What are the common causes of type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease?

Poor diet, lack of exercise, and excess weight are typically considered the common causes of type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease.

2. How are gut bacteria linked to type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease?

Researchers have found that gut bacteria produce a molecule called D-lactate, which can enter the bloodstream and contribute to increased glucose and fat production in the liver, leading to insulin resistance and chronic disease.

3. What is D-lactate, and how does it affect the body?

D-lactate is a compound produced almost entirely by gut bacteria. Unlike the lactate produced by muscles during exercise, D-lactate enters the bloodstream and acts as extra fuel for the liver, potentially causing it to overproduce glucose and fat.

4. Can changes in diet or weight affect the levels of D-lactate in the body?

According to the study, changes in diet or weight did not affect the levels of D-lactate. Instead, a “gut trap” that binds D-lactate directly in the gut was effective in improving blood sugar, reducing liver fat, and boosting insulin sensitivity in mice.

5. What is the potential new approach to treating metabolic disorders based on this study?

The study suggests that targeting gut bacteria and the molecules they produce, like D-lactate, could be a new approach to treating metabolic disorders, rather than focusing solely on the liver or hormone regulation.

Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for a specific health diagnosis.