There is a diabetes pandemic: The number of diabetes patients is expected to reach 500 million worldwide by 2030, of which 90% suffering from type 2 diabetes.~Therapeutically, metformin remains the only recommended first-line treatment. However, the common digestive effects of this molecule, concerning 30 to 50% of patients, are a major obstacle to its prescription. The availability of a treatment preventing these unwanted effects would optimise the treatment of millions of diabetes patients. This would represent a considerable advantage in terms of public health due to the expected reduction in cardiovascular morbidity.~The mechanisms of diarrhoea under metformin are poorly known. Recent data indicate that a change in gut flora might be responsible for this intestinal disorder. Recent data indicate that a change in gut flora might be responsible for this intestinal disorder. The effect of metformin on the gut flora has been extensively described. It has been shown that the therapeutic effect of metformin depends on the microbiota. In agreement with these data, a recent publication has shown that metformin's main site of action in humans was the intestine. In light of these results, it now seems plausible that metformin's effect on the gut flora is responsible not only for its therapeutic effect but also for its undesirable digestive effects. In this respect, Lactobacillus rhamnosus has shown anti-diarrhoeal effects (approximately 50% reduction in diarrhoeas) in the contexts of infection-caused dysbiosis and post-antibiotic dysbiosis.~Hypothesis: Taking into account the favourable effect on intestinal dysbiosis-induced diarrhoeas observed with Lactobacillus rhamnosus, we put forward the hypothesis that Lactobacillus rhamnosus Lcr35® will have a favourable effect on metformin-induced diarrhoea.
The mechanisms of diarrhoea under metformin are poorly known. Recent data indicate that a change in gut flora might be responsible for this intestinal disorder. The effect of metformin on the gut flora has been extensively described. It has been shown that the therapeutic effect of metformin depends on the microbiota. In agreement with these data, a recent publication has shown that metformin's main site of action in humans was the intestine. In light of these results, it now seems plausible that metformin's effect on the gut flora is responsible not only for its therapeutic effect but also for its undesirable digestive effects. In this respect, Lactobacillus rhamnosus has shown anti-diarrhoeal effects (approximately 50% reduction in diarrhoeas) in the contexts of infection-caused dysbiosis and post-antibiotic dysbiosis.~Hypothesis: Taking into account the favourable effect on intestinal dysbiosis-induced diarrhoeas observed with Lactobacillus rhamnosus, we put forward the hypothesis that Lactobacillus rhamnosus Lcr35® will have a favourable effect on metformin-induced diarrhoea.