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Obesity

New light shed on obesity-associated gut microbiota

Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology volume 8, page 537 (2011)Cite this article

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The findings of a recent study published in the International Journal of Obesity suggest that Lactobacillus reuteri is associated with obesity and that Bifidobacterium animalis, Methanobrevibacter smithii and other species of Lactobacillus are associated with normal weight.

Didier Raoult, corresponding author of the study, is investigating the possible (although controversial) idea that probiotics might have a role in promoting obesity by altering the gut microbiota. “Some bacteria are used as probiotics in humans and as growth promoters in animals,” he explains. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between certain bacterial strains that are marketed elsewhere as probiotics for human consumption and obesity.

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ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER

  1. Million, M. et al. Obesity-associated gut microbiota is enriched in Lactobacillus reuteri and depleted in Bifidobacterium animalis and Methanobrevibacter smithii. Int. J. Obes. doi: 10.1038/ijo.2011.153

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  1. Isobel Franks
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Franks, I. New light shed on obesity-associated gut microbiota. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 8, 537 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2011.159

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