A Study on the Efficacy and Gut Microbiota of Berberine and Probiotics in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes

The purpose of this study is to conduct a multicenter randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, evaluating the effects and change of gut microbiota after berberine and/or probiotics administration in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes

In the present study, about 400 newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients will be enrolled from multiple centers in China. Randomisation was computer generated and stratified by age. After screening, eligible subjects will be given Gentamycin Sulfate Sustained-release Tablets 80mg bid po for a week at the washout period, then all participants will be randomly assigned into one of the following four groups: Berberine hydrochloride tablets（0.6g bid po）and ProMetS probiotics powder（4g qN po), Berberine placebo tablets（6 pills bid po) and ProMetS probiotics powder (4g qN po), Berberine hydrochloride tablets（0.6g bid po）and Probiotics placebo powder (2 strips qN po), Berberine placebo tablets（6 pills bid po) and Probiotics placebo powder (2 strips qN po) for 3 months.

The primary objective is to determine whether a combination of probiotics and berberine is preferable to either berberine alone or probiotics alone, in comparison with placebo in improving 1). glycemic control, as measured by change in HbA1c level from baseline to 13-week follow-up, and 2). glycemic control, as measured by change in HbA1c level from baseline to 13-week follow-up in participants aged ≥ 50 years.

Blood, feces and urine samples will be collected before and after treatment. HbA1C, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial plasma glucose (PPG), GLP-1 , lipids, amino acids, bile acids and other metabolic related components and parameters will be measured. Furthermore, the change of gut microbiota will be evaluated too.

Eligibility Criteria:
Main Inclusion Criteria:

1. Newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes defined as WHO (1999) diagnostic criteria ; Both Genders Eligible;
2. Age: ≥20 and \<70 years;
3. BMI: 19.0 \~ 35.0kg/m2;
4. Not receive previously with anti-diabetic agents (oral agents, GLP-1 or insulin);
5. Have at least 2 months of life style intervention to control blood glucose before screening;
6. HbA1c ≥6.5% and ≤10.0%, and fasting plasma glucose≥7.0 mmol/L and ≤13.3mmol/L at screening.

Details please see the study protocol. -

Main Exclusion Criteria:

1. Significant impaired liver function (defined as alanine transaminase (ALT)\> 2.5 times upper limit of normal); Impaired renal function (defined as serum-creatinine\> 132μmol/L or eGFR \<60 mL/min/1.73m2 ); Mental disease, severe infection, severe anemia, neutropenia disease;
2. Other severe heart disease, such as congenital heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathy, defined as New York Heart Association class III or IV;
3. Allergic to gentamicin or other amino glycosides antibiotics;
4. Histories of acute diabetic complications including diabetic ketoacidosis or hyperosmolar hyperglycemic non-ketotic coma within 3 months;
5. Pregnancy;
6. Acute and chronic diarrhea or severe constipation of the digestive tract diseases;
7. Medical history of malignant tumor (except local skin basal cell carcinoma) in the past 5 years;
8. Medical history of intestine, or other digestive tract surgery (such as cholecystectomy) within one year, or other non gastrointestinal surgery within 6 months.

Details please see the study protocol.

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