Diet, gut microbiome, and type 1 diabetes: from risk to translational opportunity. Gut Microbes 2026 Dec 31;18(1):2614039
Date
01/15/2026Pubmed ID
41536244Pubmed Central ID
PMC12818812DOI
10.1080/19490976.2026.2614039Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105027478536 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 6 CitationsAbstract
The incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) has risen sharply in recent decades, implicating the role of environmental factors in disease pathogenesis. Diet, a primary driver of gut microbiome development and composition, along with other environmental exposures, has emerged as a potential modulator of T1D risk and progression. While nutrients, such as certain vitamins, may exert protective effects, the roles of other dietary factors (e.g., early exposure to dietary antigens) remain unclear. Importantly, diet shapes the gut microbiome, which produces immunomodulatory metabolites, including secondary bile acids, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and others that directly influence immune responses. This review presents evidence on how specific dietary factors, including macronutrients (fats, carbohydrates, proteins, such as gluten and milk proteins), fibers, and breastfeeding, affect the gut microbiome and T1D. We also discuss the effects of microbiome-targeted interventions, including probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation, on T1D and their potential as future therapeutic strategies. Although animal studies provide compelling mechanistic insights, the results from human trials remain inconsistent, underscoring the urgent need for longitudinal and interventional studies to establish causality. Understanding the complex interplay between diet, the gut microbiome, and immune homeostasis is essential for developing personalized strategies to prevent and treat T1D and delay-related complications.
Author List
Girdhar K, Dedrick S, Rhodes L, Kim D, Powis A, Mahon C, Chapdelaine H, Obaid L, McNamara M, Altindis EAuthor
Khyati Girdhar PhD Assistant Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AnimalsDiabetes Mellitus, Type 1
Diet
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation
Gastrointestinal Microbiome
Humans
Prebiotics
Probiotics
