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Your gut bacteria may help to determine your holiday weight gain.
The obese are often blamed for their own corpulence. But perhaps, just perhaps, some of the blame should be placed on another type of organism entirely: bacteria.
Read the story here.
Posted by Nicola Jones on December 20, 2006
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I believe that furthur study of the GI tract will reveal a wealth of understanding concerning many illnesses. I am curious to know the names of some of the research companies studying the aspects of GI normal flora so that I can follow the topic closely.
Posted by: nicole preslicka | December 20, 2006 09:51 PM
While the results of the research are very interesting, are we sure we want to go down the road of "stopping" the microflora from doing their evolutionary job of extracting calories from fermentable substrates? The kcal generated from the SCFA's generated via the fermentation of such things as dietary fiber is an important part of our "Human Hybrid." That is, humans, like hybrid cars, extract energy from the front end (small intestine) and literally the backend (colon/large bowel). Our ancestors consistently generated 10 to as much as 15% of basal caloric needs from the backend of our Human Hybrid by fermenting our high fiber diet. Modern humans no longer utilize this energy system - ie, we have a low fiber diet. This results in less than 5% of basal caloric needs coming from our backend hybrid. This translates into more energy being generated in the front end (think highly processes and fiber poor foods/grains) and this overworking our hybrid system that evolved on two energy sources! The result, in my opinion, is insulin resistance.
Comments welcom, Jeff
Posted by: Jeff Leach | December 21, 2006 12:29 AM
this may explain why we see poor kids in third world countries with bloated bellies when they don't really have much to eat. I use to think it was some kind of yeast problem they had.
Posted by: ed mangan | December 21, 2006 02:43 AM
If this is true then that explains a whole lot. When I was but 24 hours I was delivered with a Staph infection of my right thumb. It was according to my parents almost black.
I was started on LIve Penicillin and that continued for almost two weeks. So.. ergo.. The antibiotic literally killed off much bacteria in my own system.
This continued use of antibiotics continued for my entire life. Leading me into now type 1 diabetes.
I am now not so morbidly obese, just obese.
Thsi also bring up another item, was my diabetes caused?? and woudl this new knowledge help diabeteics?
I would very much like to talk with the Drs. who discoverd this and present my own history and biological samples for them. If anyone knows how to get in touch with them please email me.
Thank you
Julia Sherman
Posted by: Julia Sherman DN, PhT | December 21, 2006 11:26 AM
Research suggestion: Please check how common, household anti-microbials affect the different gut microbials. It may help explain an environmental cause of asymmetries.
Posted by: Jeff Chan | December 21, 2006 11:55 AM
This is a real crock. If people would eat right and exercise, there would be no issue. Instead, Americans rely on processed foods and laziness and wonder why they have a weight issue. This is just another attempt to pass the buck instead of people taking personal responsibility for their own health. An epidemic? Thats a bit of fiction there as people are doing it to themselves. Its more of a trend that has become socially popular and accepted.
Posted by: Lance Carsillo | December 21, 2006 12:11 PM
WOULD ADDING ACIDOPHILUS HELP?
Posted by: BEVERLY DAVIS | December 21, 2006 12:44 PM
The unexpected discovery that the H.Pylori bacteria was a major causative factor in gastric ulcers won the researchers a Nobel prize. It would seem that the recent discovery of potentially treatable specific gastric bacteria playing a major role in the obesity epidemic, if proven correct, will also be a Nobel prize-winning discovery and a boon to mankind.
Posted by: MARK LUTZ | December 21, 2006 01:23 PM
any research into the cause of obesity must be for the good of the sufferer. Diet and exercise play a great part in what you are. But for some, no matter how little they eat, and how much they exercise, they cannot seem to lose weight. Myself being one.
Posted by: tom.herron | December 21, 2006 01:28 PM
If this is the case, what, effect would a "colon cleansing" product have on the balance of these micro organisms? For better or worse? Was this studied at all, or would it be a good idea to use these products to "cleanse" the colon of the fat-accumulating bacteria?" How would it differentiate between the two? I am bloated with fat after many treatments for all sorts of disorders. Or, did the disorders cause the fat-accumulation itself. Makes me wonder, since I am treated by so many doctors. I'd like to participate in any upcoming study. Our family has an unusual histoy.
Posted by: Jennifer | December 21, 2006 04:35 PM
So, is there now or will there be in the future a treatment or injection in which the number of Bacteroidetes can be increased in the body, etc???
Is that even being tested??
Posted by: Bianca LeRoux | December 21, 2006 05:54 PM
While I think these findings are interesting, I don't think they are helpful for those of us who are overweight/obese. Blaming it on the microbes would count as denial in my book.
Posted by: Miss B. | December 22, 2006 09:18 AM
This research raises the possibility that the bacteria in the fat subjects may be releasing substances that increase the hunger for food. If this type of bacteria thrive in a gut with a high fat diet, then when the person tries to cut back on food, this thanges the environment so that that the high-fat-loving bacteria are stressed and will eventually die off to a subsistance level. The bacteria respond to this stress by releasing chemicals that stimulate human hunger, as a self defence mechanism. As a test of this they could grow these bacteria in a dish of water with plenty of high fat content. Then filter out the cells and inject only the fluid into the gut of thin mice to see it they eat more.
Then it would be a matter of finding the right antibotic or an agent that counteracts the appitite stimulant.
Posted by: Ernie Carter | December 25, 2006 05:40 AM
i had a dream of 7 thin cows eating 7 fat cows. what does it mean?
Posted by: marty k | January 5, 2007 07:12 PM
The June edition of the International Journal of Obesity discusses some of these questions. Human adenovirus 36, for example, is present in 40% of Obese people but only 5% of lean people.
Posted by: Ephraem | January 10, 2007 02:30 AM
I'm a Molecular Bioscience Biotechnology student at Arizona State University I read with great interest your article about microbes in your gut causing obesity. One of the projects I'd like to work on is to modify one or more of the bacteria commonly found in the human gut to excrete one or more of the 8 essential amino acids needed by humans. I believe with a few such modifications we could actually reduce the amount of food required by humans to stay healthy. With a growing human population reducing the required intake of food could prove life saving for many people. Additionally, it could also prove useful for long space travel.
Posted by: Don Nelson | January 12, 2007 05:05 PM
I have to say... from a obese person's perspective... there is much truth to taking personal responsibility. Healthy eating, physical activiry, and good rest can do wonders. However, all people are not the same. There are many variables that come into play with each individual that can also not be ignored. This variables include genetic disposition, mental & emotional health, education and environmental factors. Things are seldom black & white.
Posted by: Cheryl | March 17, 2007 08:08 PM
Hi everyone, I think you'll find this article on cinnamon, insulin resitance and
PCOS to be relevant. It says there was a recent pilot study at Columbia University showing that consumption of cinnamon
reduced insulin resistance in 15 PCOS women. It sounds like taking cinnamon extract is beneficial.
Posted by: Maril | June 5, 2007 06:36 AM
Please check how common, household anti-microbials affect the different gut microbials. It may help explain an environmental cause of asymmetries
Posted by: gazeteler | July 15, 2007 03:47 PM
Thank you for the excellent, hard and detailed work - and particularly for sharing it!
Posted by: FINGERPRINT | October 8, 2007 09:26 AM