Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Biotechnology, Daegu University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk, South Korea
  • 2 Food Technology Division, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia
  • 3 National Science Museum, Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, Daejeon, South Korea
  • 4 National Science Museum, Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, Daejeon, South Korea. Electronic address: jeongheuilim@gmail.com
  • 5 Department of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk, South Korea. Electronic address: rather@ynu.ac.kr
  • 6 School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri, India. Electronic address: atasleem@gmail.com
Microb Pathog, 2018 Nov;124:266-271.
PMID: 30138755 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2018.08.036

Abstract

Obesity and obesity-related comorbidities have transformed into a global epidemic. The number of people suffering from obesity has increased dramatically within the past few decades. This rise in obesity cannot alone be explained by genetic factors; however, diet, environment, lifestyle, and presence of other diseases undoubtedly contribute towards obesity etiology. Nevertheless, evidence suggests that alterations in the gut microbial diversity and composition have a role to play in energy assimilation, storage, and expenditure. In this review, the impact of gut microbiota composition on metabolic functionalities, and potential therapeutics such as gut microbial modulation to manage obesity and its associated comorbidities are highlighted. Optimistically, an understanding of the gut microbiome could facilitate the innovative clinical strategies to restore the normal gut flora and improve lifestyle-related diseases in the future.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.