Legume intake on gut microbiome and glycemia in type 2 diabetes management: narrative review

, as well as increased concentrations of microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). These microbial features are implicated in metabolic pathways relevant to insulin signaling and glycemic regulation; however, current human evidence does not establish that microbiota alterations causally mediate glycemic improvements. Well-designed, adequately powered clinical studies incorporating functional microbiome analyses and formal mediation approaches are required to clarify microbiota-dependent and microbiota-independent mechanisms.