Enteric microbiome and obesity: a multidimensional narrative review

Abstract

Obesity (henceforth called the pathologic condition) is a global epidemic affecting nearly 20% of adults worldwide and transcends genetic, ethnic and civilizational barriers in this era of globalization. Various ways of stemming the progress of the disease have been considered. One significant finding in this condition is an altered enteric microbiome. This review elucidates multiple mechanisms by which an altered enteric microbiome may contribute to the pathologic condition. Key roles include the microbiome’s ability to process dietary roughage into absorbable nutrients, modulate intestinal physiology, enhance nutrient absorption and influence the endocrine function of adipose tissue and the liver to regulate appetite and hunger. The gut microbiome also interacts with the entero-insular axis, optimizing food utilization, and communicates with the central nervous system to alter appetite, satiety and food-seeking behaviour. Additional mechanisms include immunomodulation, chronic inflammation, epigenetic regulation and the production of vitamins and antioxidants. Promising therapeutic avenues, including engineering beneficial gut bacteria, developing targeted probiotic formulations and designing specialized food programmes can help combat this pathologic condition and potentially provide effective, non-invasive strategies to address this widespread condition.