Gut microbiota and obesity

Obesity is a complex metabolic disorder caused by a variety of genetic and nongenetic factors (environmental factors). The World Health Organization defines obesity as having a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30, but the definition varies from country to country. In China, for example, a BMI of 28 or greater is considered obese. It is predicted that by 2030, the number of obese people worldwide will reach 1.12 billion. Obesity not only manifests as changes in appearance but is also associated with lipid and glucose metabolism disorders, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and an increased risk of a variety of diseases, most notably cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. In recent years, increasing evidence has shown that an imbalance in the gut microbiota may be a factor leading to obesity.

Up to 100 trillion symbiotic microbes live in the gut, called the gut microbiota, which comprises 10 times the number of cells in the body itself. The gut microbiota relies on food residues that the human body does not digest, mucus secreted by the gut, and dead cells that are shed as nutrients to maintain its high population levels. The active gut microbiota will produce a large number of physiologically active substances, including short-chain fatty acids, vitamins, and health-beneficial products such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant products, along with potentially harmful products such as neurotoxins, carcinogens, and immunotoxins. These products can enter the blood, directly regulate the expression of genes, and affect human immune and metabolic processes. Therefore, a healthy gut microbiota is essential for maintaining the body’s metabolism and energy balance. An imbalance in the gut microbiota can cause metabolic disorders and increase central appetite, leading to obesity.

Gut microbiota regulates obesity by regulating energy absorption, central appetite, fat storage, chronic inflammation, and circadian rhythms. The diversity of the gut microbiota is another important factor related to obesity. Most studies have shown that the diversity and richness of the gut microbiome are reduced in obese patients. Although genes play important roles in the gut microbiota, environmental factors have a more significant impact.

Diet is one of the most important factors inducing obesity. The eating habits of developed countries and regions have gradually become characterized by high fat and high sugar consumption, which has contributed to the gradual increase in obesity. Gut microbes depend on the host diet to survive and harvest energy, and dietary changes have a great impact on the gut microbiota. Sleep disturbance is another cause of obesity. Lack of sleep leads to disrupted circadian rhythms, which can affect the gut microbiome and contribute to obesity. These factors lead to systemic and visceral white adipose tissue inflammation and changes in insulin sensitivity. Stress activates genes that affect metabolism and promotes the consumption of sweet and fatty foods, thus increasing appetite and contributing to obesity. Stress significantly affects the microbiota-gut-brain axis at all stages of life. In addition, unhealthy lifestyle choices (sedentary, lack of exercise), emotional disorders, and drugs can also contribute to obesity. In short, as a “migrant”, the gut microbiota itself is obtained from the environment; thus, environmental factors have a greater impact on it and can affect the occurrence and development of obesity.

When a person decides to fight excess weight, it is usually not enough to just reduce the amount, but also to change the type of food they consume. Increased intake of fruits, vegetables, and foods that are as little industrially processed as possible can contribute to changes in the composition of the microbiota, or change the balance of bacteria in the intestines by promoting the growth and development of bacteria more typical of thinner people. However, this is often a long-term process, so probiotics containing these bacteria are increasingly recommended to speed up the process.

The effects that probiotics have on metabolism are numerous:

• effect on the intestinal wall, whose permeability can be increased due to a diet rich in fat
• reduction of inflammatory processes, which significantly affect metabolic activities
• regulation of the hormonal response of the gastrointestinal tract
• reduction of appetite and increase in adiponectin (a hormone with anti-inflammatory activity)
• increase in glucose tolerance, reduction of cholesterol.

The use of probiotics and prebiotics can serve as an adjunct therapy in the prevention and treatment of obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver. Research shows that probiotics and prebiotics lead to a significant reduction in abdominal fat and body mass index, improve carbohydrate metabolism and reduce metabolic stress in patients with diabetes and insulin resistance.

Which probiotics does Nutriseta recommend?

NBL Probiotic Gold contains a combination of probiotic bacteria that have been clinically proven to have a positive effect on weight loss, regulation of oxidative stress and lipid profile. In addition to probiotic cultures, NBL Probiotic Gold also contains prebiotics – fibers that serve as food for probiotic bacteria and help them survive in the intestines, and a combination of vitamins C, E, A, B1, B2 and B6, which will support the body during the diet. Like all NBL Probiotics, Gold is produced using a patented method with a double coating, thanks to which 100 times more probiotic bacteria survive to the intestine, compared to probiotics produced without a coating. For a positive effect on weight loss, continuous use over several months is recommended. You can find out more about these extremely useful probiotics at your nearest pharmacy.