Researchers from Imperial College London (ICL) have discovered a compound produced by gut bacteria that can protect the body from type 2 diabetes. The study showed that trimethylamine (TMA), a small molecule produced by gut microbes during the digestion of choline found in eggs and meat, may play a vital role in improving insulin response and curbing inflammation, two factors that reduce the risk of developing diabetes. The researchers explained that TMA can mitigate the effects of high-fat diets on the body, according to experiments conducted on human cell models and laboratory mice. This mechanism could pave the way for developing drugs that mimic TMA's effect and reduce inflammation caused by an unhealthy diet. The researchers emphasize that these findings are still in their early stages and require confirmation in human volunteers over longer periods, but they open up prospects for managing insulin resistance and preventing type 2 diabetes. The study also highlights the crucial role of the gut microbiome, as bacteria can secrete chemicals that interact with biological signals in the body, offering new opportunities for therapeutic interventions in obesity and diabetes. It was revealed that this microbial metabolite could break some links in the cycle between obesity, diabetes, and chronic low-grade inflammation. Mark Emmanuel Dumas, a biochemist at ICL, says: "We have shown that a molecule from gut microbes can protect the body from the damage caused by poor nutrition through a new mechanism." The researchers add that TMA works by inhibiting the IRAK4 protein, which is responsible for the inflammatory response when eating high-fat foods.
