Type 2 diabetes-associated gut microbial composition and short chain fatty acids differ across the epidemiologic transition in African origin populations

The gut microbiota and microbially produced short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are increasingly linked to type 2 diabetes (T2D), particularly in the context of dietary transitions from fiber-rich to more ultra-processed foods. Data in African origin populations are lacking. We examined the cross-sectional relationships between the gut microbiota, SCFAs, and T2D by performing amplicon sequencing and targeted metabolomics from fecal samples and measuring fasting glucose, insulin, and C-peptide in 1505 African origin middle-aged adults from Ghana, South Africa, Jamaica, Seychelles, and the US. Microbial diversity and SCFAs were highest among Ghanaian and lowest among US participants. T2D was associated with lower microbial diversity, but not when stratifying by site. Differential abundance analysis (adjusted for site, sex, BMI, and age) identified microbes associated with T2D: Romboutsia was negatively associated with T2D, while positively associated taxa included Escherichia−Shigella sp., Dielma fastidiosa, Klebsiella, and Bacteroides vulgatus. Several species that were differentially abundant by T2D showed strong correlations with SCFA concentrations, although the significance varied by site. Our results suggest that associations between the gut microbiota, SCFAs, and T2D may differ by environmental, dietary, and ecological contexts. Amid the shifting global dietary patterns, further research is needed to inform gut microbiota-targeted approaches to address the global T2D burden.

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Journal
Gut Microbes Reports
Published
2026-10-07
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/29933935.2026.2741991
Primary Topic
Gut microbiota and health
Type
article
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article

Type 2 diabetes-associated gut microbial composition and short chain fatty acids differ across the epidemiologic transition in African origin populations

Asanda Mtintsilana, Gertrude Ecklu-Mensah, Brian Thomas Layden, Yang David Dai et al.
Gut Microbes Reports
Gut microbiota and health
article

Type 2 diabetes-associated gut microbial composition and short chain fatty acids differ across the epidemiologic transition in African origin populations

Asanda Mtintsilana, Gertrude Ecklu-Mensah, Brian Thomas Layden, Yang David Dai, Lara Ruth Dugas, Estelle Victoria Lambert, Julianne A. Jorgensen, Jack A. Gilbert, Larske Marit Soepnel, Terrence Forrester, Pascal Bovet, Amy H. Luke, Candice Choo-Kang, Julia H. Goedecke, Bharathi Viswanathan, Kweku Bedu-Addo, Luke Hannan
article en

Abstract

The gut microbiota and microbially produced short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are increasingly linked to type 2 diabetes (T2D), particularly in the context of dietary transitions from fiber-rich to more ultra-processed foods. Data in African origin populations are lacking. We examined the cross-sectional relationships between the gut microbiota, SCFAs, and T2D by performing amplicon sequencing and targeted metabolomics from fecal samples and measuring fasting glucose, insulin, and C-peptide in 1505 African origin middle-aged adults from Ghana, South Africa, Jamaica, Seychelles, and the US. Microbial diversity and SCFAs were highest among Ghanaian and lowest among US participants. T2D was associated with lower microbial diversity, but not when stratifying by site. Differential abundance analysis (adjusted for site, sex, BMI, and age) identified microbes associated with T2D: Romboutsia was negatively associated with T2D, while positively associated taxa included Escherichia−Shigella sp., Dielma fastidiosa, Klebsiella, and Bacteroides vulgatus. Several species that were differentially abundant by T2D showed strong correlations with SCFA concentrations, although the significance varied by site. Our results suggest that associations between the gut microbiota, SCFAs, and T2D may differ by environmental, dietary, and ecological contexts. Amid the shifting global dietary patterns, further research is needed to inform gut microbiota-targeted approaches to address the global T2D burden.

Gut Microbes ReportsVol. 4(1)
South African Medical Research Council (ZA), Scripps Institution of Oceanography (US), University of Cape Town (ZA), Illinois College (US), University of Southern Queensland (AU), Loyola University Chicago (US), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (GH), University of California San Diego (US), University of Illinois Chicago (US), Cal Humanities (US), University of the West Indies (TT), University of the West Indies (BS), University of the West Indies (JM), Kwame Nkrumah University (ZM), Jesse Brown VA Medical Center (US), Centre universitaire de médecine générale et santé publique, Lausanne (CH), University of the West Indies (BB)
Openalex Percentile: Top 22%
Gut microbiota and health
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