Functional Interactions Between the Gut Microbiota and Host Metabolism

Overview

Journal Nature

Specialty Science

Date 2012 Sep 14

PMID 22972297

Citations 1797

Authors

Valentina Tremaroli

Fredrik Backhed

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The link between the microbes in the human gut and the development of obesity, cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndromes, such as type 2 diabetes, is becoming clearer. However, because of the complexity of the microbial community, the functional connections are less well understood. Studies in both mice and humans are helping to show what effect the gut microbiota has on host metabolism by improving energy yield from food and modulating dietary or the host-derived compounds that alter host metabolic pathways. Through increased knowledge of the mechanisms involved in the interactions between the microbiota and its host, we will be in a better position to develop treatments for metabolic disease.

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