Critically discuss the emerging role of the gut microbiota in metabolic health
Summary:
The connection between gut microbiota, obesity-related disorders and inflammation have been increasingly recognized and understanding the composition of gut microbiota may play a potential role in preventing and/or treating metabolic health. Both in animal and human studies had recognized an alteration of microbiota composition leading to the development of obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes. With new culturing techniques, it provides a better insight into a series of complex interactions between hosts and gut microbiota.
With obesity related disorders rapidly increasing world-wide, gut microbiota has been increasingly researched as it is believed …show more content…
This has been observed through the comparison of several studies performed. Turnbaugh et.al examined ob/ob mice (obese leptin deficient) and conventional mice discovered conventional mice had lower percentages of Firmicutes and approximately 50% higher of Bacteroidetes in their distal gut even when the same polysaccharide-rich diet were fed. It had been noted in another study by turnbaugh et.al that the development of obesity had been associated with an increase of Firmicutes and decrease of Bacteroidetes when both ob/ob mice and conventional mice were fed a typical western diet as compared to another group of mice consuming a high polysaccharide and low fat diet. It was observed in the obese mice that coding for enzymes that assist the extraction of energy from indigestible polysaccharides increased. With the above studies, the data suggest that in obese individuals, gut microbiota have better capability to yield energy from host diet. Interestingly, these results had been consistent with animal studies showing a difference in Firmicutes and Bacterodetes ratio between obese and lean humans, the ability to reverse the increase of Firmicutes and Bacterodetes were done surgically or alteration of diet. Human studies had confirmed animal data, which suggests that the composition of gut microbiota is associated with obesity however the link behind obesity and …show more content…
The inability to regulate energy intake, expenditure and storage, alterations may result in obesity. Gut microbiota helps to assist in extracting energy from ingested food and store them in the host’s adipose tissue for later use. The ingested food will also provide energy and nutrients for microbial growth and multiplication. The efficiency and the composition of gut bacteria may be the predisposition for obesity. Regulation of adiposity and the regulation of host energy through the role of gut microbiota had been observed by Gordon et.al. The experiment composed of germ free mice (raised in an environment free from micro-organisms) and conventionally raised mice. Germ free mice had a total of 40% less total body fat even when their diet were 29% higher in energy than conventional raised mice. Germ free mice were conventionalized with microbiota from the distal intestine (cecum) of conventionally raised animals. In 14 days conventionalized germ free mice had produced 57% body fat increase and insulin resistance despite food intake reduction. In another key experiment conducted by Backhed et.al Germ free mice or conventional raised mice were fed a typical western diet (high fat and high carbohydrate). Just within 2 months germ free mice had gained weight and fat mass however significantly less weight than the conventionally raised mice and interestingly the western diet did not provoke glucose intolerance
Summary:
The connection between gut microbiota, obesity-related disorders and inflammation have been increasingly recognized and understanding the composition of gut microbiota may play a potential role in preventing and/or treating metabolic health. Both in animal and human studies had recognized an alteration of microbiota composition leading to the development of obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes. With new culturing techniques, it provides a better insight into a series of complex interactions between hosts and gut microbiota.
With obesity related disorders rapidly increasing world-wide, gut microbiota has been increasingly researched as it is believed …show more content…
This has been observed through the comparison of several studies performed. Turnbaugh et.al examined ob/ob mice (obese leptin deficient) and conventional mice discovered conventional mice had lower percentages of Firmicutes and approximately 50% higher of Bacteroidetes in their distal gut even when the same polysaccharide-rich diet were fed. It had been noted in another study by turnbaugh et.al that the development of obesity had been associated with an increase of Firmicutes and decrease of Bacteroidetes when both ob/ob mice and conventional mice were fed a typical western diet as compared to another group of mice consuming a high polysaccharide and low fat diet. It was observed in the obese mice that coding for enzymes that assist the extraction of energy from indigestible polysaccharides increased. With the above studies, the data suggest that in obese individuals, gut microbiota have better capability to yield energy from host diet. Interestingly, these results had been consistent with animal studies showing a difference in Firmicutes and Bacterodetes ratio between obese and lean humans, the ability to reverse the increase of Firmicutes and Bacterodetes were done surgically or alteration of diet. Human studies had confirmed animal data, which suggests that the composition of gut microbiota is associated with obesity however the link behind obesity and …show more content…
The inability to regulate energy intake, expenditure and storage, alterations may result in obesity. Gut microbiota helps to assist in extracting energy from ingested food and store them in the host’s adipose tissue for later use. The ingested food will also provide energy and nutrients for microbial growth and multiplication. The efficiency and the composition of gut bacteria may be the predisposition for obesity. Regulation of adiposity and the regulation of host energy through the role of gut microbiota had been observed by Gordon et.al. The experiment composed of germ free mice (raised in an environment free from micro-organisms) and conventionally raised mice. Germ free mice had a total of 40% less total body fat even when their diet were 29% higher in energy than conventional raised mice. Germ free mice were conventionalized with microbiota from the distal intestine (cecum) of conventionally raised animals. In 14 days conventionalized germ free mice had produced 57% body fat increase and insulin resistance despite food intake reduction. In another key experiment conducted by Backhed et.al Germ free mice or conventional raised mice were fed a typical western diet (high fat and high carbohydrate). Just within 2 months germ free mice had gained weight and fat mass however significantly less weight than the conventionally raised mice and interestingly the western diet did not provoke glucose intolerance