Gut Microbiota, Obesity and Diabetes

The growing epidemic of obesity is no longer restricted to developed countries. In 2005, the World Health Organization alerted that there were approximately 400 million obese adults worldwide, and approximately 20 million children worldwide were overweight. Obesity is a complex health issue with serious consequences such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and others. Behavioral, genetic and environmental factors have been addressed as contributing factors for overweight and obesity. Recent evidence indicates that the community of microorganisms that dwell in the gut, known as the gut microbiota, can influence nutrient absorption and energy storage. The microbiotic composition has been shown to differ between obese and lean mice and humans alike, suggesting that modulation of the gut microbiotic composition offers a new avenue for the treatment of obesity and overweight. This review revises the available scientific evidence supporting these speculations. Recent results obtained from studies focusing on the contributions of gut microbiota to diabetes are also summarized in this review.