Metabolism is a machinery of biochemical changes in our body, precisely constructed and caring for the energy balance.

Living in modern times - the era of overeating, consumption of highly processed products and lack of exercise - unfortunately does not make its task easier and leads to a constant increase in the mass of adipose tissue. If we provide more calories in the diet than our body needs, overweight develops first, and then obesity. However, not only calories are to blame …

The problem is wider. It is enough to mention epigenetic, hormonal or infectious disorders in one sequence. But there is one more important factor that has so far been underestimated: the gut microbiota[1] . Microorganisms, especially bacteria that inhabit our digestive tract, are actively involved in the digestion of nutrients. Through the produced compounds (so-called metabolites), they not only influence how much energy we get from food, but also control the processes of lipogenesis, i.e. fat formation[2] .

You are what you have in your gut

Did you know that it is enough to get bacteria from an obese person to gain weight? This is what scientists found out by conducting experimental animal research. When lean mice were transplanted with the microbiota of obese mice, the former were found to be more efficient in obtaining energy from their food, resulting in increased deposition of adipose tissue. Literally, recipients during the transplantation procedure assumed the phenotype (appearance) of donors[3-5] . Interestingly, when mice were bred completely devoid of microbiota in the laboratory, they were not afraid of even a long-term, high-calorie diet.

Scientific research has proven that slim and obese people have a different composition of the microbiota. In the intestines of overweight and obese people, there are often less beneficial bacteria from the generaBacteroidetesandBifidobacterium , and moreFirmicutes, actually one of their classes, ieMollicutes . And it is they that facilitate the absorption of simple sugars from food and break down plant polysaccharides (e.g. fiber) contained in food, which physiologically are not digested in our digestive tract. In this way, bacteria of the Mollicutes type provide their owners with up to 200 kcal per day more than in lean people. Little? Maybein the perspective of one day, but in a few months it is extra pounds to lose[6] .

There are other malicious microbes as well. Some people who are overweight live, for example, by bacteria that are hungry for simple sugars and fats. In order to encourage their owners to make appropriate food choices, they offer serotonin (the happiness hormone) in return, which, after "empty calories", will put them in a state of well-being[7] . There are also species that interfere with the production of leptin - the satiety hormone - which in turn translates into an unrestrained feeling of hunger[8] .

Briefly about short chain fatty acids

Microbiota is an active creation. It mainly produces the so-called Short chain fatty acids (SCFA), the most important of which are acetic, butyric and propionic acids. They are made of fiber and - like their bacterial producers - regulate metabolic processes[9] . These acids are physiologically very beneficial.

For example, butyric acid nourishes the cells of the intestine, but also improves the sensitivity of tissues to insulin, thus preventing the development of type 2 diabetes. Together with propionic acid, it stimulates the production of satiety hormones. Interestingly, it can also stimulate the formation of fat cells and the storage of fat drops in them, presumably through increased glucose uptake or participation in lipid formation. On the other hand, it inhibits lipolysis, which, together with stimulating glucose uptake and triglyceride synthesis, makes it a potential therapeutic agent in the fight against hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia[10] .

The production of short fatty acids has a significant impact on maintaining the integrity of the intestinal barrier. It is a physical structure made up of epithelial cells. They are covered with a layer of protective mucus inhabited by intestinal bacteria. Together with the circulatory, lymphatic, immune and nervous systems, epithelial cells form a specialized port that limits the penetration of pathogenic bacteria and the toxic metabolites they produce[11] . The barrier is strengthened by the balance of microbiota and optimal synthesis of fatty acids.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to find such conditions in the intestines of obese people. Obesity is one of the important factors causing dysbiosis (disturbances in the composition and function of the microbiota). Numerous studies prove that the intestinal barrier is then excessively permeable[12] . It leads to endotoxemia, i.e. poisoning the body with antigens and substances of bacterial origin that disrupt metabolism. The more intense the endotoxemia, the greater the body weight and the more impaired glucose toleranceand consequently diabetes, elevated blood cholesterol levels, and the presence of atherosclerosis and hypertension[13-15] .

Probiotics and prebiotics in the treatment of obesity

If obesity may be related to dysbiosis and its aftermath, how do you restore a valuable balance in the gut?

  • Above all, avoid foods rich in fats and sugars, and include fiber and prebiotics, i.e. non-digestible nutrients that nourish intestinal bacteria, into your daily diet. Prebiotics include, among others in whole grains, leek, onions, garlic or bananas[16] .
  • You need to introduce physical activity into your daily routine, because without it you can't talk about human he alth in any of its dimensions[17] .
  • The necessary supplementation is probiotic supplementation, i.e. appropriately selected strains of probiotic bacteria with proven he alth-promoting properties[18] . Thanks to them, it is possible to restore the balance - both in the composition and function of intestinal bacteria.

There are numerous probiotic preparations on the market of dietary supplements, but targeted probiotic therapy brings the greatest benefits. When looking for the right product, pay attention to one that has a positive effect on the problem confirmed in scientific research.

How do you know probiotics can solve metabolic problems? Evidence-based medicine (EBM) comes to the rescue. In 2016, a systematic review of clinical trials (i.e. research conducted with the participation of humans) was carried out, which showed that taking selected probiotic strains may have a positive effect on at least one of the parameters related to metabolic processes. It was found that appropriate probiotic supplementation can improve the concentration of fasting glucose or insulin, as well as selected parameters of the lipid metabolism[19] . In 2022, a meta-analysis (a statistical summary of many clinical trials) was performed, which confirmed that the body mass index (BMI)[20]decreased in people taking probiotics. This study analyzed numerous bacterial strains that are not always available on the Polish market.

What will you get in a Polish pharmacy?

If you want to receive a preparation aimed not only at rebuilding the intestinal microbiota, but primarily at regulating metabolic processes, find one that contains probiotic strains:Bifidobacterium lactisW51 , Bifidobacterium lactisW52 , Lactobacillus acidophilusW22 , LactobacillusparacaseiW20 , Lactobacillus plantarumW21 , Lactobacillus salivariusW24and Lactobacillus lactisW19 . It's good when it also contains prebiotics, such as fructo-oligosaccharides and inulin. They will be a source of energy for intestinal bacteria.

A product containing both probiotics and prebiotics is referred to as a synbiotic. Thanks to the double action, the intestinal microbiota can regenerate and rebuild defense mechanisms that prevent endotoxemia. Set of probiotic strains

regulates the secretion of short-chain fatty acids, and also stimulates the synthesis of anti-inflammatory compounds and glucagon-like proteins (Glucagon-lzzike peptides, GLP-1 and GLP-2), which are involved in the regulation of metabolism and sensitize tissues to the effects of of insulin, counteracting the development of insulin resistance[21.22] . In addition, probiotics increase the production of the so-called mucins. It is a special protein (combined with sugars) lining the intestinal wall, which ensures the proper processing and removal of cellular and bacterial toxins from the body, which is necessary for the proper regulation of adipose tissue physiology[23] . Prebiotics, on the other hand, are needed to control the secretion of satiety hormones and prevent excessive appetite[24-26] .

He althy fashion

The intestinal microbiota determines the absorption of nutrients from food, thus regulating the body's energy management, and thus maintaining a he althy body weight. Disturbances in the composition of the microbiota are currently considered to be one of the causes of overweight and obesity. The use of probiotics is undoubtedly one of the most favorable he alth trends today. By using probiotics, you will not only ensure the proper composition of the microbiota, but also increase the chances of achieving your dream figure.

Category:

Slimming