A Personal Microbiome-dependent Glucose Response in Healthy Young Volunteers

Elevated blood glucose levels constitute a major risk factor for pre-diabetic and diabetic patients. Postprandial glucose tests have been used for decades to monitor and compare glucose responses. Yet, individuals eating identical meals present high variability in post-meal blood glucose response making comparisons challenging. A recent landmark study showed that the inter-individual variation of postprandial glucose responses was associated with multiple person-specific factors including faecal microbiome factors. Gut microbial richness has for a long time been considered a hallmark of gut health and stability. Furthermore, microbial richness has been associated with colonic transit time, which together with the gastric emptying rate appear to be major determinants of the initial glycaemic response to carbohydrate-containing meals. Therefore, the aim of the study is to investigate whether postprandial glucose responses are associated with gut microbial richness, as well as secondary measures including gastric emptying rate, intestinal transit time and gut microbial composition and fermentation. In an acute-meal study, 40 healthy fasted participants will consume a standardized breakfast including one tablet of paracetamol (for estimating gastric emptying rate) and 300 mL of juice.