# Impact of L. plantarum 299v supplementation on endothelial function and inflammation in humans with type 2 diabetes

> **NIH NIH K24** · MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN · 2022 · $114,463

## Abstract

This mid-career development award application is designed to provide critical protected time for the applicant to
increase and improve his mentoring activities along with further developing his research program in clinically
oriented translational research in vascular biology and endothelial function. During his 12+ years as a faculty
member, the applicant has served as research mentor for 17 post-doctoral mentees, including 10 physician-
scientists. Nearly 90% percent of the applicant's mentees engaged in patient-oriented research, nearly 50%
percent are women, and 82% have remained in academic medicine settings. As part of this program, the
applicant will create a more detailed and structured mentorship program for his trainees who are interested in
careers in patient-oriented clinical/translational research in vascular biology and physiology. This K24 application
is scientifically centered on determining the vascular and inflammatory impact of supplementation of humans
with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) with the probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (Lp299v). This proposal represents
a natural outgrowth of the applicant's current work. Despite aggressive traditional risk factor modification and
glycemic control efforts with even the most recent glycemic control agents with favorable cardiovascular profiles,
atherosclerotic vascular diseases and microvascular disease continue to disproportionately impact individuals
with diabetes mellitus (DM). Vascular disease in T2DM begins with the development of vascular endothelial
dysfunction. The applicant's group recently reported that once daily supplementation with Lp299v results in
improved endothelial function and reduced systemic vascular inflammation in men with stable coronary artery
disease. This was the first report of a probiotic supplement having a favorable impact on vascular endothelial
function in humans. While this data supports the concept that Lp299v improves vascular endothelial function and
reduces systemic inflammation, only three individuals in the pilot study had T2DM. Whether the favorable effects
of Lp299v supplementation extend to humans with T2DM remains uncertain. Equipose regarding impact of
Lp299v supplementation in human T2DM is further supported by the known significant differences in the
composition and metabolism of the gut microbiota of humans with T2DM suggesting the interaction of T2DM gut
microbiota with Lp299v may significantly differ compared to those without diabetes. The applicant's preliminary
data suggest Lp299v's favorable impact on endothelium-dependent vasodilation and vascular inflammation may
be magnified in individuals with T2DM. We will test the hypothesis that Lp299v supplementation improves
endothelium-dependent vasodilation and microvascular function, reduces inflammation, and improves insulin
sensitivity in humans with T2DM in the setting of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover
clinical trial. The proposed studies will both advance our ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10312807
- **Project number:** 5K24HL152143-02
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN
- **Principal Investigator:** Michael E Widlansky
- **Activity code:** K24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $114,463
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-12-10 → 2025-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10312807

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10312807, Impact of L. plantarum 299v supplementation on endothelial function and inflammation in humans with type 2 diabetes (5K24HL152143-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10312807. Licensed CC0.

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