Gut Microbiota-Derived Metabolites and Their Impact on Obesity

This chapter outlines the developments in the field of research on the connection between obesity and gut microbiota. Research on the link between obesity and gut flora reveals a complex relationship between microbial composition and host metabolism. A diverse gut microbiotaGut microbiota is associated with good health, contrasting with reduced diversity in obesity. FirmicutesFirmicutes and BacteroidetesBacteroidetes dominate the gut microbiota, with obesity often causing shifts in their abundance. Certain bacterial genera, like Akkermansia and Faecalibacterium, decrease in obese individuals, while Lactobacillus reuteri levels may rise, potentially contributing to weight gainDysbiosis. Dysbiosis, characterized by disrupted symbiotic interactions, is implicated in obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes, leading to a leaky gut and inflammation. Meta-analyses confirm significant microbiota composition changes in obesity, particularly in FirmicutesFirmicutes, BacteroidetesBacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria. Strategies to combat obesity increasingly involve probioticsProbiotics and prebioticsPrebiotics, showing promise in experimental and clinical studies for their anti-obesity effects. Probiotics can alter microbiota composition, regulate appetite hormones, increase energy expenditure, fortify the intestinal barrier, and hinder lipid absorption, while prebioticsPrebiotics modulate microbiota composition, enhance gut barrier function, reduce inflammation, and impact appetite regulation and fat metabolism. Despite promising prospects, further research is needed to develop effective microbiota-based therapies for managing obesity and related metabolic disorders.