Introduction
Anaerobutyricum soehngenii, formerly known as Eubacterium hallii, is a next-generation beneficial microbe recognized for its ability to produce butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid associated with various health benefits, particularly in metabolic health. This study explores the effects of A. soehngenii on glycemic control and other markers of cardio-metabolic health in adults at risk for type 2 diabetes.
Study Overview
Several short-term intervention trials involving A. soehngenii L2-7 have indicated an improvement in insulin sensitivity among prediabetic individuals and patients with type 2 diabetes. To evaluate the long-term cardiometabolic benefits and safety of this microbe, we conducted a rigorous 3-month double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial involving 98 prediabetic insulin-resistant adults from Europe and the U.S. Subjects received daily doses of encapsulated A. soehngenii CH-106, a tetracycline-sensitive isogenic derivative of strain L2-7.
Results
Comparing the A. soehngenii group to the placebo group revealed significant reductions in glycemic variability (with a 1% reduction in the coefficient of variation; p = 0.01) and improvements in overall glycemic control (notably a 6% reduction in net glycemic action-1; p < 0.05). Furthermore, serum glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels decreased during the 4-week washout period, showing a reduction of 1 mmol/mol (p < 0.05). Additionally, all participants receiving A. soehngenii experienced a significant drop in diastolic blood pressure, with a reduction of 3 mm Hg (p < 0.05).
The investigational product was well-tolerated, with no adverse influence on the overall composition of the intestinal microbiota. The treatment group showed increased levels of A. soehngenii, indicating adherence to supplementation. Notably, participants from the U.S. demonstrated the most significant improvements during oral glucose tolerance tests, with a 15% enhancement in the area under the curve for plasma glucose levels (p = 0.039) and a 3.1% reduction in variability (p < 0.05). This may correlate with a more severe state of prediabetes among U.S. participants, who exhibited a notable reduction in the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium, Coprococcus, and Ruminococcus spp., and a two-fold increase in Lachnoclostridium spp.
Conclusion
The daily oral supplementation with A. soehngenii appeared safe and effectively enhanced various markers indicative of glycemic control. This included reductions in HbA1c levels and diastolic blood pressure, suggesting a promising microbiome-based strategy to improve cardio-metabolic health in adults at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The study’s findings support the potential of A. soehngenii in generating beneficial health outcomes, emphasizing the need for further research into gut microbiota’s role in metabolic disorders.
Clinical Trial Registration
This trial is registered under Clinical trial reg. no. NCT04529473 at clinicaltrials.gov.
Reference
Attaye I, Bird JK, Nieuwdorp M, Gül S, Seegers JFML, Morrison S, Hofkens S, Herrema H, Bui N, Puhlmann ML, de Vos WM. Anaerobutyricum soehngenii improves glycemic control and other markers of cardio-metabolic health in adults at risk of type 2 diabetes. Gut Microbes. 2025 Dec;17(1):2504115. doi: 10.1080/19490976.2025.2504115 IF: 11.0 Q1 . Epub 2025 May 15. PMID: 40371708 IF: 11.0 Q1 ; PMCID: PMC12087665 IF: 11.0 Q1 .