Butyrate and Propionate are Negatively Correlated with Obesity and Glucose Levels in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity

Shi Zhang,1 Yanju Zhang,2 Jing Li,1 Xincheng Wang,1 Minying Zhang,3 Meiyang Du,1 Weiran Jiang,4 Chunjun Li1 1Department of Endocrinology, Health Management Center, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Nankai University Affiliated Hospital, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China; 2Graduate School, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China; 3School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China; 4Eastman Institute for Oral Health, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USACorrespondence: Chunjun Li, Department of Endocrinology, Health Management Center, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Nankai University Affiliated Hospital, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China, Email li_chunjun@126.comBackground: Growing evidence has demonstrated the important roles of gut microbiota and short chain fatty acids, especially acetate, propionate and butyrate, in the development of obesity and metabolic diseases. To date, the effects of acetate, propionate and butyrate on human adiposity and glucose metabolism remain controversial. This study aimed to explore the associations of systemically acetate, propionate and butyrate with obesity and glucose homeostasis in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity.Methods: A total of 12 patients with T2D and obesity and 8 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals with BMI < 24 kg/m2 were enrolled in this study. Height, weight, body composition, blood pressure, biochemical indices, a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, and plasma acetate, propionate and butyrate were measured at baseline. Then, participants in T2D group were given a weight control therapy, in addition to conventional medication, and all the measurements were repeated 12 months from baseline. The direct segmental multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to assess body composition. Acetate, propionate and butyrate levels were determined by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry.Results: Butyrate concentration significantly increased from baseline after obvious weight loss (P< 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that propionate was negatively correlated with percent of body fat (PBF) and 2-h plasma glucose (2-h PG) (P< 0.05), and butyrate was negatively associated with body mass index, visceral fat area, PBF and 2-h PG (P< 0.05). No association was found between acetate and obesity.Conclusion: Butyrate and propionate are negatively correlated with obesity and glucose levels in patients with T2D and obesity.Keywords: obesity, type 2 diabetes, gut microbiota, short chain fatty acids