Published online Jun 15, 2021. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v12.i6.730
Peer-review started: February 10, 2021
First decision: March 8, 2021
Revised: March 23, 2021
Accepted: May 20, 2021
Article in press: May 20, 2021
Published online: June 15, 2021
Processing time: 114 Days and 11.7 Hours
Insulin resistance is the rate-limiting step in the development of metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes. The gut microbiota has been implicated in host energy metabolism and metabolic diseases and is recognized as a quantitatively important organelle in host metabolism, as the human gut harbors 10 trillion bacterial cells. Gut microbiota break down various nutrients and produce metabolites that play fundamental roles in host metabolism and aid in the identification of possible therapeutic targets for metabolic diseases. Therefore, understanding the various effects of bacterial metabolites in the development of insulin resistance is critical. Here, we review the mechanisms linking gut microbial metabolites to insulin resistance in various insulin-responsive tissues.
Core Tip: Since the gut microbiota has been implicated in host energy metabolism and metabolic diseases, understanding mechanisms linked to insulin resistance is a first step in discovery of new drugs and novel targets against metabolic diseases. Here, we review the mechanisms linking gut microbial metabolites to insulin resistance in major target tissues of insulin.