The Impact of Microbial Metabolites on Host Health and Disease

There is compelling evidence that the gut microbiota functions as an endocrine organ through the production of various metabolites with hormone-like properties that play multifaceted roles in host metabolism. It is increasingly appreciated that gut dysbiosis, which disturbs the production and utilization of microbial metabolites, is a major determinant of several metabolic diseases. In this chapter, we discuss the influence of some of these microbial-related metabolites on host (patho)physiological processes known to be involved in the development of metabolic disorders, such as obesity and its related comorbidities. The pace of progress in this field is rapid, and a deeper understanding of the mechanistic roles that microbial metabolites play in the interaction between the host and gut microbiota will undoubtedly reveal new insights into the etiology of metabolic disorders. Microbial metabolites are also emerging as useful biomarkers and clinical tools to evaluate disease predisposition and progression, and further research will hopefully define new uses of microbial metabolites for not only the treatment of metabolic disease but also its prevention.