Gut Microbiota and Obesity: A Role for Probiotics

Obesity is now one of the most common human health issues.

Over the last 30 years, research has revealed the role of an imbalance in energy intake and expenditure, an unhealthy lifestyle, and genetic variability in the development of obesity.


Recently, it has been observed that gut microbiota composition and metabolic functions can influence obesity development.

Gut microbiota is a large group of beneficial bacteria found in our intestines.

There is evidence for a link between gut bacteria and obesity in both children and adults.


The interaction between gut microbes and obesity involves a number of genetic, metabolic, and inflammatory pathophysiological mechanisms.


Microbial changes in the human gut can be considered a factor in the development of obesity in humans.


Overweight and obesity-related conditions are responsible for nearly 2.8 million deaths each year: blood hypertension, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance increase the risk of coronary heart disease, ischemic stroke, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cancer development.


Obesity is caused by changes in bacterial strains in the gut microbiota.
Obese people had a 50% decrease in the population of good bacteria (Bacteroidetes) and a proportional increase in the population of harmful bacteria (Firmicutes).


After consuming probiotic-rich foods, the relative abundance of good bacteria increased while the relative abundance of bad bacteria decreased.


The modulation of the bacterial strains in the digestive tract can help to reshape the metabolic profile in the human obese host.


As a result, improving your gut microbiota with probiotic-rich foods may help you avoid or recover from obesity.

The journal Nutrients published detailed research on the role of probiotics in obesity management via gut microbiota in November 2019.

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