Role of Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis in Feline Diabetes Mellitus: Therapeutic Potential of Herbal and Probiotic Supplementation

Background: Feline diabetes mellitus (FDM) has become increasingly common among companion animals and shares several characteristics with human type ۲ diabetes, including insulin resistance and chronic low-grade inflammation. Mounting evidence indicates that gut dysbiosis, through alterations in the gut–pancreas axis, contributes to the onset and progression of the disease by affecting microbial metabolites, intestinal permeability, and immune signaling. This study aimed to evaluate whether herbal and probiotic supplementation could improve glycemic control, oxidative status, and gut microbial composition in diabetic cats. Methods: Data synthesized from ۴۲ peer-reviewed studies (۲۰۲۰–۲۰۲۵) were used to construct a literature-informed simulated model involving thirty adult cats allocated to three groups: (i) control (standard diabetic diet), (ii) herbal-treated (Gymnema sylvestre and Cinnamomum zeylanicum), and (iii) herbal–probiotic-treated (herbal extract combined with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum). Evaluated parameters included fasting glucose, serum insulin, HOMA-IR, oxidative stress markers (MDA, TAC), and fecal microbiota composition via ۱۶S rRNA sequencing. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA with significance at p < ۰.۰۵. Results: The herbal–probiotic group showed significant improvement (p < ۰.۰۵) in glycemic and antioxidant parameters compared with both control and herbal-only groups. Fasting glucose decreased by approximately ۱۸–۲۲%, MDA levels dropped by ~۲۵%, and TAC significantly increased. ۱۶S rRNA profiling revealed a notable enrichment of beneficial bacterial taxa such as Lactobacillus, Faecalibacterium, and Bifidobacterium, alongside a marked reduction in pro-inflammatory genera including Clostridium and Desulfovibrio. These outcomes are consistent with published findings suggesting that combining phytochemicals with probiotics modulates redox balance, enhances insulin sensitivity, and stabilizes the gut barrier. Conclusions: Gut microbiota dysbiosis plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of FDM. Targeted modulation through combined herbal–probiotic supplementation shows promise as an adjunctive therapeutic approach. Future research should explore the underlying mechanisms by which microbial metabolites and their signaling pathways influence metabolic regulation and insulin responsiveness.

کلیدواژه ها:

Feline diabetes mellitus ، gut microbiota ، probiotics ، herbal medicine ، oxidative stress ، gut–pancreas axis