Gut Microbiota Alterations, Biochemical Markers, and Dietary Patterns in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study in Sokoto, Nigeria
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasingly linked to gut microbiota dysbiosis, yet the relationship between microbial alterations, specific biochemical markers, and dietary patterns remains underexplored in African populations. This study examined associations between gut microbiota composition, circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines, fecal calprotectin, and dietary patterns in T2DM patients in Sokoto, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study enrolled 126 participants (63 T2DM patients and 63 age- and sex-matched healthy controls). We quantified gut microbiota (Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes) using qPCR. We measured plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), as well as fecal calprotectin, using ELISA. We assessed dietary patterns using a structured questionnaire. We assessed associations between microbial abundance and biomarkers using Spearman's correlation, and analyzed clinical/dietary factors associated with dysbiosis using chi-square tests and logistic regression. Results: Among T2DM patients, 51 (81.0%) exhibited gut dysbiosis, characterized by an elevated Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio. Participants with dysbiosis had significantly higher median concentrations of TNF-α (41.41 ng/L), IL-6 (2.34 pg/mL), and fecal calprotectin (47.05 pg/mL) than controls (p < 0.05 for all). Hyperglycemia showed the strongest association with dysbiosis (χ² = 107.47, p < 0.001). Dietary analysis showed that rice/swallow consumption at breakfast was associated with 83.3% dysbiosis prevalence (χ² = 13.321, p = 0.038), while 100% of participants who consumed oats at dinner had dysbiosis (χ² = 53.784, p < 0.001). In dysbiotic patients, the F/B ratio correlated strongly with TNF-α (r = 0.782, p = 0.001), moderately with IL-6 (r = 0.352, p = 0.032) and faecal calprotectin (r = -0.530, p = 0.001). We observed no significant correlations in the eubiotic or control groups. Conclusion: Gut dysbiosis in T2DM is associated with elevated systemic inflammation, altered microbial metabolites, intestinal inflammation, and specific dietary patterns. These findings support the gut–systemic inflammatory axis and highlight the potential for microbiome-targeted dietary interventions in T2DM management, particularly in resource-limited settings.
Institutions: Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Bayero University Kano
Language: English
Topic: Gut microbiota and health
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7215653166
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