Dietary Patterns May Reshape Microbiota to Combat Obesity

Dietary patterns that promote beneficial gut microbiota show promise in combating obesity and related metabolic diseases, according to recent research published in Frontiers in Nutrition.

The global obesity crisis has reached alarming levels, with individuals with obesity nearly tripling since 1975. In 2016, over 1.9 billion adults were overweight, and more than 650 million had obesity, alongside 340 million children and adolescents aged 5-19.

“Obesity is increasingly posing a significant threat to global health, increasing the risk of developing non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cardiovascular disease, some cancers, and other illnesses,” explained Xiaofan Lou, Nutrition and Food Hygiene Laboratory, School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical College in Xinxiang, China, and coauthors. “Diet plays a crucial role in the development of these diseases,” they added.

Scientists have found that certain diets can positively reshape the gut microbiome, potentially offering new strategies to address the global obesity epidemic. The Mediterranean diet, ketogenic diets, and fiber-rich diets have demonstrated particular effectiveness in altering gut bacteria composition in ways that may improve metabolic health.

A high-fiber diet has been shown to increase gut microbial diversity and production of beneficial short-chain fatty acids. These fatty acids play crucial roles in regulating metabolism, appetite, and inflammation. The Mediterranean diet, characterized by high consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and olive oil, is associated with increased levels of bacteria linked to improved insulin sensitivity. This could have significant implications for preventing and managing type 2 diabetes.

Ketogenic diets, which are low in carbohydrates and high in fats, can reduce pro-inflammatory gut bacteria while protecting nerve cells. This dual action may contribute to the diet's observed benefits in weight loss and neurological conditions. Intermittent fasting, another popular dietary approach, alters gut microbiota in ways that may promote fat burning and improve overall metabolic health.

Carbohydrate-restricted diets have shown promise in improving metabolism for patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. These diets appear to increase folate-producing bacteria in the gut, which may lead to improvements in lipid metabolism and reduced inflammation.

Researchers emphasize that gut microbes produce important metabolites like short-chain fatty acids, bile acids, and tryptophan derivatives, which play crucial roles in regulating metabolism and immunity. These metabolites act as signaling molecules, influencing various physiological processes throughout the body.

However, scientists caution that more research is needed to develop personalized dietary interventions, as individual responses to diet changes can vary significantly.

“As our understanding of the interplay between diet and [gut microbiome] continues to deepen, it is possible that personalized nutritional approaches tailored to individual patients could be developed to combat obesity and related metabolic diseases more effectively,” concluded the study authors.

Reference

Lou X, Li P, Luo X, et al. Dietary patterns interfere with gut microbiota to combat obesity. Front Nutr. 2024;11:1387394. doi:10.3389/fnut.2024.1387394