THE PHAGE study shows gut microbiota affects individual glycemic response to yogurt

THE PHAGE, Inc., in collaboration with Meiji Co., Ltd. and Chiba University, conducted a large-scale analysis on how daily yogurt intake affects blood glucose dynamics. In an 84-day single-arm intervention study involving 303 non-diabetic Japanese adults, participants consumed 200g of yogurt fermented with L. bulgaricus 2038 and S. thermophilus 1131 every morning. CGM records showed significant improvements in mean glucose, fluctuation, and smoothness, alongside an increase in beneficial gut bacteria like butyrate producers. Crucially, the study suggested that individual differences in glycemic response are influenced by pre-intervention gut microbiota, particularly the abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria, rather than genetic or typical blood markers. The findings were published online in 'The Journal of Nutrition' on May 19, 2026, and presented at the 69th Annual Meeting of the Japan Diabetes Society on May 22, 2026. THE PHAGE aims to leverage these insights to implement personalized healthcare solutions based on everyday blood glucose dynamics.