Bedeutung des Mikrobioms für Adipositas und Glukosestoffwechsel

Metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity are associated with compositional and functional changes in the intestinal microbiota. After more than 10 years of intense research, evidence is emerging for a causal role of the intestinal microbiota in initiation and progression of these adverse metabolic conditions. However, underlying mechanisms are still unknown. Presumably, microorganisms alone or in consortia (dysbiosis) regulate energy metabolism and insulin sensitivity, energy extraction from diet, and intestinal barrier and immune function. In this context, microbial treatment options including fecal microbiota transplantation are discussed for metabolic disease. Nevertheless, inconclusive and incomplete study results require further clinical and experimental validation.