Effect of experimental hookworm infection on insulin resistance in people at risk of type 2 diabetes
Abstract The reduced prevalence of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes in countries with endemic parasitic worm infections suggests a protective role for worms against metabolic disorders, however clinical evidence has been non-existent. This 2-year randomised, double-blinded clinical trial in Au...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40263-4 |
| _version_ | 1797769433498779648 |
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| author | Doris R. Pierce Malcolm McDonald Lea Merone Luke Becker Fintan Thompson Chris Lewis Rachael Y. M. Ryan Sze Fui Hii Patsy A. Zendejas-Heredia Rebecca J. Traub Matthew A. Field Tony Rahman John Croese Alex Loukas Robyn McDermott Paul R. Giacomin |
| author_facet | Doris R. Pierce Malcolm McDonald Lea Merone Luke Becker Fintan Thompson Chris Lewis Rachael Y. M. Ryan Sze Fui Hii Patsy A. Zendejas-Heredia Rebecca J. Traub Matthew A. Field Tony Rahman John Croese Alex Loukas Robyn McDermott Paul R. Giacomin |
| author_sort | Doris R. Pierce |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The reduced prevalence of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes in countries with endemic parasitic worm infections suggests a protective role for worms against metabolic disorders, however clinical evidence has been non-existent. This 2-year randomised, double-blinded clinical trial in Australia of hookworm infection in 40 male and female adults at risk of type 2 diabetes assessed the safety and potential metabolic benefits of treatment with either 20 (n = 14) or 40 (n = 13) Necator americanus larvae (L3) or Placebo (n = 13) (Registration ACTRN12617000818336). Primary outcome was safety defined by adverse events and completion rate. Homoeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, fasting blood glucose and body mass were key secondary outcomes. Adverse events were more frequent in hookworm-treated participants, where 44% experienced expected gastrointestinal symptoms, but completion rates were comparable to Placebo. Fasting glucose and insulin resistance were lowered in both hookworm-treated groups at 1 year, and body mass was reduced after L3-20 treatment at 2 years. This study suggests hookworm infection is safe in people at risk of type 2 diabetes and associated with improved insulin resistance, warranting further exploration of the benefits of hookworms on metabolic health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T21:07:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5b424d44f7ae4b2e899f402c57cbee3b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T21:07:58Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-5b424d44f7ae4b2e899f402c57cbee3b2023-07-30T11:19:59ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232023-07-0114111110.1038/s41467-023-40263-4Effect of experimental hookworm infection on insulin resistance in people at risk of type 2 diabetesDoris R. Pierce0Malcolm McDonald1Lea Merone2Luke Becker3Fintan Thompson4Chris Lewis5Rachael Y. M. Ryan6Sze Fui Hii7Patsy A. Zendejas-Heredia8Rebecca J. Traub9Matthew A. Field10Tony Rahman11John Croese12Alex Loukas13Robyn McDermott14Paul R. Giacomin15Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook UniversityCentre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook UniversityCollege of Health Sciences, James Cook UniversityCentre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook UniversityCentre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook UniversityCollege of Health Sciences, James Cook UniversityCentre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook UniversityMelbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of MelbourneMelbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of MelbourneMelbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of MelbourneCentre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook UniversityThe Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Prince Charles HospitalCentre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook UniversityCentre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook UniversityCentre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook UniversityCentre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook UniversityAbstract The reduced prevalence of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes in countries with endemic parasitic worm infections suggests a protective role for worms against metabolic disorders, however clinical evidence has been non-existent. This 2-year randomised, double-blinded clinical trial in Australia of hookworm infection in 40 male and female adults at risk of type 2 diabetes assessed the safety and potential metabolic benefits of treatment with either 20 (n = 14) or 40 (n = 13) Necator americanus larvae (L3) or Placebo (n = 13) (Registration ACTRN12617000818336). Primary outcome was safety defined by adverse events and completion rate. Homoeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, fasting blood glucose and body mass were key secondary outcomes. Adverse events were more frequent in hookworm-treated participants, where 44% experienced expected gastrointestinal symptoms, but completion rates were comparable to Placebo. Fasting glucose and insulin resistance were lowered in both hookworm-treated groups at 1 year, and body mass was reduced after L3-20 treatment at 2 years. This study suggests hookworm infection is safe in people at risk of type 2 diabetes and associated with improved insulin resistance, warranting further exploration of the benefits of hookworms on metabolic health.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40263-4 |
| spellingShingle | Doris R. Pierce Malcolm McDonald Lea Merone Luke Becker Fintan Thompson Chris Lewis Rachael Y. M. Ryan Sze Fui Hii Patsy A. Zendejas-Heredia Rebecca J. Traub Matthew A. Field Tony Rahman John Croese Alex Loukas Robyn McDermott Paul R. Giacomin Effect of experimental hookworm infection on insulin resistance in people at risk of type 2 diabetes Nature Communications |
| title | Effect of experimental hookworm infection on insulin resistance in people at risk of type 2 diabetes |
| title_full | Effect of experimental hookworm infection on insulin resistance in people at risk of type 2 diabetes |
| title_fullStr | Effect of experimental hookworm infection on insulin resistance in people at risk of type 2 diabetes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of experimental hookworm infection on insulin resistance in people at risk of type 2 diabetes |
| title_short | Effect of experimental hookworm infection on insulin resistance in people at risk of type 2 diabetes |
| title_sort | effect of experimental hookworm infection on insulin resistance in people at risk of type 2 diabetes |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40263-4 |
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