Akkermansia, a Possible Microbial Marker for Poor Glycemic Control in Qataris Children Consuming Arabic Diet-A Pilot Study on Pediatric T1DM in Qatar

Abstract

In Qatar Type 1 Diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is one of the most prevalent disorders. This study aimed to explore the gut microbiome’s relation to the continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) therapy, dietary habits, and the Hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c)e A1c(HbA1c) level in the pediatric T1DM subjects in Qatar. We recruited 28 T1DM subjects with an average age of 10.5 ± 3.53 years. The stool sample was used to measure microbial composition by the 16s rDNA sequencing method. The results have revealed that the subjects who had undergone continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy had increased microbial diversity and genus Akkermansia was significantly enriched in the subjects without continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy. Moreover, genus Akkermansia was higher in the subjects with poor glycemic control (Hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c)e A1c(HbA1c) > 7.5%). When we classified the subjects based on dietary patterns and nationality,  Akkermansia was significantly enriched in Qataris subjects without the continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy consuming Arabic diet than expatriates living in Qatar and eating a Western/mixed diet. Thus, this pilot study showed that the abundance of Akkermansia is dependent on the Arabic diet only in poorly controlled Qataris T1DM patients, opening new routes to personalized treatment for T1DM in Qataris pediatric subjects. Further comprehensive studies on the relation between the Arabic diet, ethnicity, and Akkermansia are warranted to confirm this preliminary finding.

Source MDPI