how could the bacterial microbiome impact obesity?
Could the bacterial microbiome play a role in obesity? A recent study suggests that it could. The research looked at the gut bacteria of twins, one of whom was obese and the other who was not. The team found that there were significant differences in the gut bacteria of the two siblings.
Further analysis showed that certain types of gut bacteria were more common in the obese twin. These bacteria are known to produce metabolites that can cause inflammation and weight gain. The team also found that when they transferred microbiota from the obese twin to germ-free mice, the mice became obese.
So, what does this mean for obesity prevention and treatment? It’s still early days, but these findings could lead to new ways to prevent or treat obesity, by targeting the gut bacteria. For example, probiotics or prebiotics could be used to improve gut bacteria composition and reduce inflammation.