A new discovery in the human gut microbiome – the microorganisms, including bacteria, archaea, fungi and viruses, that live in our digestive tracts – could pave the way for future weight loss interventions, scientists have revealed.
Due to be announced at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO), researchers have identified specific species of microorganisms that can increase or decrease a person’s likelihood of developing obesity.
Based on a study of 361 adult volunteers from Spain, scientists found six key species in all.
“Our findings reveal how an imbalance in distinct bacterial groups is likely to play an important role in the onset and development of obesity,” explained lead researcher Dr Paula Aranaz from the Centre for Nutrition Research at the University of Navarra.
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Participants were categorised based on their obesity index, with 65 individuals classified as normal-weight, 110 as overweight and 186 as obese. Genetic microbiota profiling was then conducted to identify the types, composition, diversity and abundance of bacteria present in stool samples.
So, what did they find?
Specifically, individuals with a higher obesity index exhibited lower levels of Christensenella minuta, a bacterium known to be associated with leanness and health in other studies.
Interestingly, there were some differences between sexes in the findings too. For example, in men, an abundance of Parabacteroides helcogenes and Campylobacter canadensis species were associated with higher BMI, fat mass and waist size.
Meanwhile, in women, the species Prevotella micans, Prevotella brevis and Prevotella sacharolitica were predictive of obesity risk but weren't in men.
But for the person on the street who doesn’t know their Christensenella minuta from their Parabacteroides helcogenes, what does all this mean?
“Gut microbiome composition, specifically higher levels of the Christensenella minuta bacterium, appeared to protect against obesity. Whereas the species that influence the risk of developing obesity appear to be different between the sexes,” Aranaz said.
Put simply, we might be able to create obesity-hostile microbiomes in the future by promoting certain types of bacteria. These interventions, Aranaz stated, may need to be different for men and women based on the team’s findings.
“This novel, broader approach could help to develop nutritional precision strategies for weight loss that modify the presence of specific bacteria strains, or the levels of bioactive molecules,” she concluded.
But before you go in search of extra Christensenella minuta or attempt to get rid of your Prevotella micans, it’s important to note that the sample for the study came from one area of Spain – climate, geography and diet could be playing a significant role here.
About our expert:
Paula Aranaz is a researcher in the field of bioactive compounds Centre for Nutrition Research at the University of Navarra, Spain. She studies the potential applications of different compounds in the treatment and prevention of metabolic diseases. Aranaz's research has been published in the journals International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Nutrients and the European Journal of Nutrition.
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