Food Science & Nutrition · 11 authors, 6 centres
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In db/db mice, a type 2 diabetes model, melatonin administration (0.25% and 0.50% in drinking water) for 12 weeks improved insulin sensitivity, reduced fasting blood glucose, and altered gut microbiota composition alongside reduced fecal short-chain fatty acid levels. These findings are correlative and require further investigation to establish causality.
This preclinical study investigated the effects of 12-week melatonin administration (0.25% and 0.50% via drinking water) on gut microbiota and glucose homeostasis in db/db mice, a leptin receptor-deficient type 2 diabetes model. Melatonin treatment decreased diabetic polydipsia and polyuria, increased insulin sensitivity, and reduced fasting blood glucose. Correlation analysis revealed that accumulated fecal total SCFAs and acetic acid were positively correlated with HOMA-IR index and fasting blood glucose. Melatonin also reprogrammed gut microbiota structure and abundance, reduced fecal SCFAs (acetic acid, butyric acid, isovaleric acid, caproic acid, and isobutyric acid), and downregulated hepatic gluconeogenic genes. Limitations include the correlative nature of findings, absence of germ-free or antibiotic controls to confirm gut microbiota involvement, no serum or liver SCFA measurements, and unknown contributions of melatonin metabolites. Causality between altered SCFAs and improved glucose homeostasis cannot be established from this study.
