Guts, germs, and meals: The origin of type 1 diabetes

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is due, in part, to non-genetically determined factors including environmental factors. The nature of these environmental effects remains unclear but they are important to identify since they may be amenable to therapy. Recently, the gut microbiota, the trillions of microorganisms inhabiting the gut, as well as diet, have been implicated in T1DMpathogenesis. Since dietary changes can reshape this complex gut community, its co-evolution could have been altered by changes to our diet, agriculture, personal hygiene, and antibiotic usage, which coincide with the increased incidence of T1DM. Recent studies demonstrate an association between altered gut microbiota and T1DM in both T1DMpatients and animalmodels of the disease. Further studies should provide new insight into those critical hostmicrobial interactions, potentially suggesting new diagnostic or therapeutic strategies for disease prevention. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012.