Trial reportNature communications2020
Imidazole propionate is increased in diabetes and associated with dietary patterns and altered microbial ecology.
Erratum issuedOpen access · goldAbstract readClinical Trial
In one paragraph
Trial report in Nature communications, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 168 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
168citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
10.1field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
168 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 262 citations in OpenAlex.
- Gut-associated metabolites and diabetes pathology: a systematic review.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2025Pooled it
- The Gut-Heart Axis: Effects of Intestinal Microbiome Modulation on Cardiovascular Disease-Ready for Therapeutic Interventions?International journal of molecular sciences · 2024Pooled it
- Cholesterol-lowering effects of oats induced by microbially produced phenolic metabolites in metabolic syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.Nature communications · 2026Trial
- Milk phospholipid-coated lipid droplets modulate the infant gut microbiota and metabolome influencing weight gain.Microbiome · 2025Trial
- Microbial metabolite-driven mechanisms linking the gut microbiome to atherosclerosis: multi-omic and translational perspectives.Gut microbes · 2026Review
- Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome through the lens of gut‑derived uremic toxins.Gut microbes · 2026Review
- An oral-gut microbial metabolite linksGut microbes · 2026Article
- Histidine-improved cancer immunosurveillance.Oncoimmunology · 2026Article
- Gut microbiota-derived imidazole propionate promotes primary sclerosing cholangitis via p38 signalling.Nature metabolism · 2026Article
- Interorgan Crosstalk in MASLD: A Narrative Review.Biomedicines · 2026Review
- Review
- Gut microbiota-derived imidazole propionate predicts cardiometabolic risk in patients with coronary artery disease.European heart journal · 2026Article
- Gut microbial metabolites and cardiometabolic disorders: new targets for prevention and treatment.European heart journal · 2026Article
- Gut mucosal barrier: the frontline of bidirectional regulation of the gut-X axis.Medical review (2021) · 2026Review
- Gut bacterial metabolite imidazole propionate potentiates Alzheimer's disease pathology.Nature communications · 2026Article
- Microbiome histidine competition mediates dietary control of systemic imidazole propionate.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026Article
- Circulating imidazole propionate and coronary heart disease risk: interplay between histidine intake, fiber, and gut microbiome.BMC medicine · 2026Article
- The Gut Microbiome in Heart Failure: Pathways to Inflammation and Therapeutic Targets.Metabolites · 2026Review
- Gut microbiome composition and functional potential associate with incident type 2 diabetes in 4,685 adults from a Swedish prospective cohort.Cell reports. Medicine · 2026Article
- Microbiota-Derived Metabolites in Developmental Programming: Bridging Early-Life Gut Microbiota to Childhood Metabolic Disorders.Current medical science · 2026Review
108 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
46 authors at 17 institutions in 7 countries.
Antonio MolinaroWallenberg Laboratory, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine and Sahlgrenska Center for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research, University of Gothenburg, 413 45, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Pierre Bel LassenINSERM, Nutrition and Obesities; Systemic Approaches (NutriOmics), Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
Marcus HenricssonWallenberg Laboratory, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine and Sahlgrenska Center for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research, University of Gothenburg, 413 45, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Hao WuWallenberg Laboratory, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine and Sahlgrenska Center for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research, University of Gothenburg, 413 45, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Solia AdriouchINSERM, Nutrition and Obesities; Systemic Approaches (NutriOmics), Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
Eugeni BeldaINSERM, Nutrition and Obesities; Systemic Approaches (NutriOmics), Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
Rima ChakarounMedical Department III - Endocrinology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany.
Trine NielsenNovo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2066-7895
Per-Olof BerghWallenberg Laboratory, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine and Sahlgrenska Center for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research, University of Gothenburg, 413 45, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Christine RouaultINSERM, Nutrition and Obesities; Systemic Approaches (NutriOmics), Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
Sébastien AndréINSERM, Nutrition and Obesities; Systemic Approaches (NutriOmics), Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7543-153X
Florian MarquetINSERM, Nutrition and Obesities; Systemic Approaches (NutriOmics), Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
Fabrizio AndreelliINSERM, Nutrition and Obesities; Systemic Approaches (NutriOmics), Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
Joe-Elie SalemAssistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Clinical Investigation Center Paris East, 75013, Paris, France.
Karen AssmannINSERM, Nutrition and Obesities; Systemic Approaches (NutriOmics), Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
Jean-Philippe BastardAssistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Biochemistry and Hormonology Department, Tenon Hospital, 75020, Paris, France.
Sofia ForslundExperimental and Clinical Research Center, A Cooperation of Charité-Universitätsmedizin and the Max-Delbrück Center, Berlin, Germany.
Emmanuelle Le ChatelierMicalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Paris, France.
Gwen FalonyLaboratory of Molecular Bacteriology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2450-0782
Nicolas PonsMicalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Paris, France.
Edi PriftiIntegromics Unit, Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition, 75013, Paris, France.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8861-1305
Benoit QuinquisMicalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Paris, France.
Hugo RoumeMicalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Paris, France.
Sara Vieira-SilvaLaboratory of Molecular Bacteriology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4616-7602
Tue H HansenNovo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5948-8993
Helle Krogh PedersenNovo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Christian LewinterNovo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Nadja B SønderskovNovo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6350-8117
MetaCardis Consortium
Lars KøberNovo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Henrik VestergaardNovo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3090-269X
Torben HansenNovo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8748-3831
Jean-Daniel ZuckerUnité de Modélisation Mathématique et Informatique des Systèmes Complexes, UMMISCO, 93143, Bondy, France.
Pilar GalanSorbonne Paris Cité Epidemiology and Statistics Research Centre (CRESS), U1153 Inserm, U1125, Inra, Cnam, University of Paris 13, Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team (EREN), 93017, Bobigny, France.
Marc-Emmanuel DumasComputational and Systems Medicine, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9523-7024
Jeroen RaesMicalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Paris, France.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1337-041X
Jean-Michel OppertAssistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Pitie-Salpêtrière Hospital, Nutrition department, CRNH Ile de France, Paris, France.
Ivica LetunicBiobyte Solutions GmbH, Bothestr. 142, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany.
Jens NielsenDepartment of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, SE41128, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9955-6003
Peer BorkStructural and Computational Biology, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2627-833X
S Dusko EhrlichMicalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Paris, France.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7563-4046
Michael StumvollMedical Department III - Endocrinology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany.
Oluf PedersenNovo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3321-3972
Judith Aron-WisnewskyINSERM, Nutrition and Obesities; Systemic Approaches (NutriOmics), Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
Karine ClémentINSERM, Nutrition and Obesities; Systemic Approaches (NutriOmics), Sorbonne Université, Paris, France. karine.clement@inserm.fr.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2489-3355
Fredrik BäckhedWallenberg Laboratory, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine and Sahlgrenska Center for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research, University of Gothenburg, 413 45, Gothenburg, Sweden. fredrik.backhed@wlab.gu.se.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4871-8818
Sorbonne Université · FRInserm · FRUniversity of Copenhagen · DKUniversité Paris-Saclay · FRAgroParisTech · FREuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory · DEUniversity of Gothenburg · SEImperial College London · GBRega Institute for Medical Research · BESahlgrenska University Hospital · SEUnité de Modélisation Mathématique et Informatique des Systèmes Complexes · FRAssistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris · FRBiobyte Solutions (Germany) · DEChalmers University of Technology · SEFudan University · CNHeidelberg University · DEMax Delbrück Center · DE
Funding
Department of Health
Abstract
Microbiota-host-diet interactions contribute to the development of metabolic diseases. Imidazole propionate is a novel microbially produced metabolite from histidine, which impairs glucose metabolism. Here, we show that subjects with prediabetes and diabetes in the MetaCardis cohort from three European countries have elevated serum imidazole propionate levels. Furthermore, imidazole propionate levels were increased in subjects with low bacterial gene richness and Bacteroides 2 enterotype, which have previously been associated with obesity. The Bacteroides 2 enterotype was also associated with increased abundance of the genes involved in imidazole propionate biosynthesis from dietary histidine. Since patients and controls did not differ in their histidine dietary intake, the elevated levels of imidazole propionate in type 2 diabetes likely reflects altered microbial metabolism of histidine, rather than histidine intake per se. Thus the microbiota may contribute to type 2 diabetes by generating imidazole propionate that can modulate host inflammation and metabolism.
Indexed as
Gastrointestinal MicrobiomeAdultAgedBacteriaCohort StudiesDiabetes Mellitus, Type 2FemaleHistidineHumansImidazolesMaleMiddle Aged5-imidazolepropionic acidHistidineImidazoles
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.