Journal of Obesity & Weight Loss Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

Obesity is a growing epidemic in many countries. There�s a remarkable development in the investigation of obesity-induced insulin resistance. Low- grade inflammation is involved in the molecular mechanism of insulin resistance. Recently, the influence of changing gut microbiota has been investigated as contributing factor for obesity and metabolic aberrations. Obesity is associated with an altered gut microbiota in humans. The composition of the gut microbiota has been shown to differ in lean and obese humans and animals, and to change rapidly in response to dietary intervention. The gut microbiota may influence the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes which are characterized by low grade inflammation. These results support the emerging views that the gut microbiota contributes to metabolic disease by modulating host metabolism. Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are released from the dead Gram-negative bacteria in the gut, and under conditions of gut damage can translocate into the circulation where it trigger an inflammatory response. LPS-binding protein (LBP) is another reactive biomarker formed in response to microbial translocation. LPS and LBP serum levels have been associated with obesity and with other cardiovascular and metabolic morbidities. There are growing evidences that the altered composition of the gut microbiota and the resulted endotoxemia are responsible for the rapid increase in obesity. The aim of the current review is to discuss the recent research findings that have focused on the involvement of gut microbiota and metabolic endotoxemia in human obesity, and the potential role of dietary intervention to restore the normal gut microbiota. The studies indicated that the normal composition of the gut microbiota is altered with high fat diet. There are many studies that correlated the high levels of endotoxicity to low grade inflammation and the emergence of metabolic disorders and obesity.

Biography

Sondos Harfil is a Lecturer at the College of Health Sciences and instructed several courses. She is serving as a member in several community associations and comittees. She has completed her MSc and higher diploma in Biology from University of Jordan and currently enrolled in PhD program at University Sains Malaysia, Biomedicine department. Her research interest is in the field of gut micorbiota and obesity.

Email: sharfil@sharjah.ac.ae