Administration of Bifidobacterium animalis Subsp. lactis BLa80 and Lactobacillus acidophilus LA85 Improved Hyperglycemia and Modulated Gut Microbiota in Type 2 Diabetic Mice.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a prevalent metabolic disorder and constitutes a significant threat to global public health. Increasing evidence has shown the therapeutic potential of probiotics in the management of T2DM. This study established a T2DM mouse model through high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin injection (HFD/STZ) and investigated the preventive effects of two probiotic strains: Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BLa80 and Lactobacillus acidophilus LA85. The results indicated that both probiotic strains significantly improved glucose homeostasis by reducing fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, enhancing insulin sensitivity, and increasing glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) levels. Moreover, probiotics decreased blood lipid and pro-inflammatory mediator levels, enhanced the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, and mitigated pathological alterations in ileal, hepatic, pancreatic, and renal tissues. Subsequent 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing analysis revealed that BLa80 and LA85 interventions effectively modulated gut microbiota composition, particularly by increasing the relative abundance of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-producing bacterial taxa. Notably, the mechanisms of action were strain-specific: BLa80 primarily impacted glycemic control and promoted the proliferation of Bifidobacterium and Limosilactobacillus, whereas LA85 exhibited superior efficacy in regulating lipid metabolism and promoted the growth of Lactobacillus and Alistipes populations. These findings indicate that BLa80 and LA85 can ameliorate symptoms related to T2DM despite their distinct regulatory pathways, suggesting their potential as therapeutic agents in diabetes management.