Dietary-Induced Alteration in the Gut Microbiome and Its Potential Role in Obesity

Abstract

The gut microbiome, a key constituent of the colonic environment, has been implicated as an important modulator of human health. Obesity has become a major health problem due to its increasing prevalence and its association with chronic disorders that include type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Although obesity is a result of a long-term imbalance between dietary intake and energy expenditure, dietary-induced alterations in the gut microbiome play an important role in the onset and development of this condition. Many studies have shown that by manipulating diet, it is possible to favor the engraftment of a specific bacterial strain over others to control obesity using the approach of prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics. Metabolic changes due to the altered microbiome in obesity include enhanced energy extraction from food, lipogenesis, and insulin resistance. These therapeutic approaches to prevent and treat obesity by microbiome manipulation are being pursued in laboratories and are of growing interest to commercial companies and governments.