A Review of the Relationship between Gut Microbiome and Obesity

Abstract

Obesity is a rapidly growing problem of public health on a worldwide scale, responsible for more than 60% of deaths associated with high body mass index. Recent studies underpinned the augmenting importance of the gut microbiota in obesity. Gut microbiota alterations affect the energy balance of the host organism; namely, as a factor affecting energy production from the diet and as a factor affecting host genes regulating energy expenditure and storage. Gut microbiota composition is characterised by constant variability, and is affected by several dietary factors, suggesting the probability that manipulation of the gut microbiota may promote leaning or prevent obesity. Our narrative review summarizes the results of recent years that stress the effect of gut microbiota in the development of obesity. It investigates the factors (diet, dietary components, lifestyle, and environment) that might affect the gut microbiota composition. Possible strategies for the prevention and/or treatment of obesity include restoring or modifying the composition of the microbiota by consuming prebiotics and probiotics, fermented foods, fruits, vegetables, and avoiding foods of animal origin high in saturated fat and sugar.

Impact of Palm dates fruit intake in the alleviation of gastrointestinal manifestations of autistic children: A randomized clinical trial

“…Because, it is very di cult to change the feeding behavior of ASD children [38,39], less than half of the studied autistic children on the dates fruit regimens showed improvement in their nutritional status and their BMI z score (38.2% and 42.7% respectively). The use of probiotics and prebiotics are some potential methods for the prevention and/or treatment of obesity [40].…”

Alterations of Vaginal Microbiota and Chlamydia trachomatis as Crucial Co-Causative Factors in Cervical Cancer Genesis Procured by HPV

“…The balance of the vaginal microbiome is constantly influenced by various local and systemic factors, such as diet, hormonal levels, smoking, and the use of topical products or antibiotics. Aging plays a significant role in the composition of the vaginal microbiota, and vaginal physiology is modified by the composition of the vaginal microbiota [ 45 , 46 , 47 ]. During pregnancy, the first microbial colonization occurs at the time of the delivery, supplied by the mother’s vagina or skin, depending on the route of birth.…”

“…According to the dietary outlook in this small review, we can refer to “Healthy diet style” and “Unhealthy diet style”. The modern industrialized “Unhealthy diet” habits are defined by high loading of sugar, solid oils, highly refined carbohydrates and refined grains, fried potatoes, and sweet drinks and are substantially associated with higher BVV odds [ 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 ]. For instance, overweight women are more prone to have higher rates of infections, either bacterial or viral, compared to lean women due to different mechanisms, including alterations in hormonal, metabolic, or immunological functions that tend to affect the overall structural stability of the vaginal microbiota.…”

“…In addition, a high carbohydrate and fat intake induces dysbiosis via the down-expression of angiopoietin-like protein 4 (Angptl4), resulting in lipoprotein lipase (LPL) hyperactivity. The elevated LPL has direct consequences on higher uptake of fatty acids that, in turn, increase fat accumulation in peripheral tissues and thus inflammation [ 47 ].…”

“…These changes contribute to altering the gut microbial composition, generating the phenomenon known as “The leaky gut”, and allowing bacteria translocation within and in and out of the gut compartments. Furthermore, this typology of food has a direct impact on the overgrowth and migration of Gram-negative pathogens with bacterial fragments, such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS), freely moving across the intestinal lumen and triggering the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway in the bloodstream that, in turn, opens up the Toll-like receptors towards the activation of proinflammatory cytokine CD14, causing an increased intestinal permeability [ 47 ].…”