An overview of microbiome based strategies on anti‐obesity

Abstract

With the significant global obesity epidemic and emerging strong scientific evidence that connected gut microbiota to obesity, intervening obesity by targeting gut microbiota has become a trendy strategy. Particularly the application of probiotics has become remarkably popular because of their expected association with gut microbiota modulation. Although there are many literatures on the effects of probiotics in obese animal models, most of them reported the effects of probiotic bacteria on metabolic indications with limited information on anti‐obesity itself. Besides, some probiotics have been shown to reduce certain metabolic symptoms but they failed to achieve weight loss. This report reviewed the current literatures on the anti‐obesity effects of next‐generation probiotics in various animal obesity models and discussed the beneficial potential of fecal microbiota transplantation in treating obesity in humans. The purpose of this article is to help guide further research improve the probiotic bacteria experiments in more precise animal obesity models by standardizing the anti‐obesogenesis, obesity control, and treatment assays and hopefully the evidence‐based investigations on harnessing gut microbiota through next‐generation probiotics or fecal microbiota transplantation will develop new interventions to promote and achieve anti‐obesity.

Microbiota Transplant in the Treatment of Obesity and Diabetes: Current and Future Perspectives

“…However, whether increased Firmicutes was actually the catalyst for the observed weight gain directly, remains to be seen. The beneficial effects of an ample Bacteroides load displayed in lean individuals, has been attributed to enhanced polysaccharide digesting capabilities with better nutrient metabolism (Chang et al, 2019). However, these findings have not been consistent, as other studies using animal models have demonstrated decreases in Bacteroidetes with no change in Firmicutes, as well as other changes in the bacteria representation, showing no change in metabolic functionality or polysaccharide digesting capabilities (Ejtahed et al, 2016).…”

“…The world is currently facing an unprecedented increase in the number of overweight and obese individuals (Chang et al, 2019). A staggering 33% of the world's population over the age of 20 is overweight [body mass index (BMI) 25-30 kg/m2] or obese (BMI > 30 kg/m2).…”

The Influence of Gut Microbiota on the Cardiovascular System Under Conditions of Obesity and Chronic Stress

“…In general, the reason for obesity can be stated as an imbalance between energy intake and its expenditure. However, the matter is much more complicated because environmental factors, alongside genetic factors affect the onset of obesity, which in itself is conducive to further dysregulation of energy management [ 18 ••, 58 ]. In the course of obesity, excessive adipose tissue proliferation occurs and related systemic disorders are also observed, including vascular, hormonal (insulin resistance, glucose intolerance), and systemic low-grade inflammation, leading to the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and hypertension [ 12 ••, 18 ••, 21 , 59 , 60 ].…”

What Should I Eat and Why? The Environmental, Genetic, and Behavioral Determinants of Food Choice: Summary from a Pennington Scientific Symposium

“…Other strategies, such as fecal transplantation to alter the gut microbiota, have great potential, as evidenced by animal studies (62,63). However, the impact of fecal transplantation on metabolic health in humans is still emerging (64,65). Although scientific evidence surrounding the microbiome is growing, much of this research to date has been primarily correlational, and more work is needed to understand the mechanisms behind how the gut microbiota influences metabolic health.…”