| Abstract [eng] |
The composition of hosts gut microbiome has been thought to play a role in obesity and weight management overall. This review aims to identify that the composition of the gut microbiome influences obesity through its role in digestion, metabolism, and immune system regulation. A healthy microbiome must be highly diverse, and most importantly consists of beneficial bacteria that aid in maintaining gut integrity and function. Microbes that make up the majority of the population are facultative anaerobes and aerotolerant anaerobes that aid in digesting of food when consumed by the host. Historically, the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was suggested as an indicator of obesity, stating that obese individuals having an altered balance between these two bacterial groups were more likely to be obese or overweight. However, current evidence points to this ratio being an oversimplified biomarker when it comes to the gut microbiota as it lacks consistency amongst different study populations, mainly due to factors such as, diet, genetics, and environment. This review also highlights environmental, genetic, and dietary factors that significantly influenced gut microbiota composition and diversity. Unhealthy dietary patterns, specifically those seen in high-fat, low-fiber Western diets, were associated with reduced microbiome diversity. In contrast, diets rich in plant-based fibers promoted microbial richness and improved metabolic performance. A consistent finding across a variety of populations was reduced gut microbial diversity amongst obese individuals. Reduced microbial diversity was seen to be associated with impaired metabolic function, increased energy extraction from diet, and heightened inflammatory response. Additionally, the promotion of microbial diversity through dietary modifications, lifestyle interventions, and potentially probiotic supplementation was discussed as a promising strategy for managing obesity and improving metabolic health. |
