GUT BACTERIA MAY IMPACT BODYWEIGHT

Evidence is mounting of the importance of our gut bacteria to not only to our digestive health but that of all our body systems.  Interestingly, several recent studies suggest the composition of gut bacteria in our systems influence the likelihood of becoming obese.  For example in a recent study coordinated by Dr. Dusko Ehrlich researchers monitored the gut bacteria of 169 obese and 129 non-obese individuals.  They found that the gut bacterial in the obese people were less diverse and had more metabolic irregularities than in those at a healthy weight.  Even more striking, those with the least diverse gut bacteria gained more weight.  In another study from France, researchers monitored gut bacteria in 49 overweight and obese people when they were put on a weight loss diet that was low in fat and high in protein and fiber-rich fruits and vegetables.  Before the dietary intervention the participants had relatively low diversity within the their gut bacteria but with the dietary changes, the bacteria make-up of the overweight and obese persons diversified and came to more closely resemble the bacteria of lean persons. 

The relationship between gut bacteria and weight gain remains unclear but the research suggests that the metabolisms of the gut bacteria themselves are connected to the overall metabolism in the humans where they live. This means that disruption of the bacteria in the gut by use of antibiotics or eating foods that help only particular bacteria grow can have effects upon our entire bodies and how we gain weight. 

What to do:  While our understanding of the role gut bacteria play in weight gain and other health problems is still in its infancy, there no question healthy bacteria are essential to our digestive systems' function.  Eating a plant-rich diet appears to support a healthy mix gut bacteria.  Eating a diet rich in healthy probiotics (foods containing healthy bacteria) such as lowfat/nonfat yogurt also helps to support the population of healthy bacteria in your gut.

Adapted from article available at:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_140159.html

Sources:

Le Chatelier E,  Nielsen T, Qin J, et al. Richness of human gut microbiome correlates with metabolic  markers.  Nature 500, 541-546. (Aug. 29, 2013).  Available at:  http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature12506.

Cotillard A, Kennedy SP, King LC et al.  Dietary intervention impact on gut microbial gene richness.  Nature 500, 585-588 (29 August, 2013).  Available at:  http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature12506.