Category : Obesity

The gut microbiota has become a new player in the onset and development of metabolic syndrome and its associated pathologies. One gut bacterium that has been positively associated with leanness in mice and humans is Akkermansia muciniphila, which is naturally present in the gut microbiota of healthy people. In 2017, our research team at UCLouvain (Belgium) found that a pasteurized…

Patrice D. Cani
Professor Patrice D. Cani is researcher from the Belgian Fund for Scientific Research (FRS-FNRS), group leader in the Metabolism and Nutrition research group at the Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI) from the Université catholique de Louvain (UCL), Brussels, Belgium, and WELBIO (Walloon Excellence in Lifesciences and BIOtechnology) investigator. He is currently member of several international associations, he is member of the Alumni College from the Royal Belgian Academy of Sciences, and he has been elected in the board of directors of the LDRI (UCL). Patrice D. Cani has a M.Sc. in Nutrition and another M.Sc. in health Sciences, he is registered dietitian and PhD in Biomedical Sciences. His main research interests are the investigation of the role of the gut microbiota in the development of metabolic disorders, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and low grade inflammation. More specifically, he is investigating the interactions between the gut microbiota, the host and specific biological systems such as the endocannabinoid system and the innate immune system in the context of obesity, type 2 diabetes and metabolic inflammation. Prof Cani is author and co-author of more than 110 scientific research papers published in peer-reviewed international journals, conferences and book chapters.

The gut microbiota has become a new player in the onset and development of metabolic syndrome and its associated pathologies. One gut bacterium that has been positively associated with leanness in mice and humans is Akkermansia muciniphila, which is naturally present in the gut microbiota of healthy people. In 2017, our research team at UCLouvain (Belgium) found that a pasteurized…

Patrice D. Cani
Professor Patrice D. Cani is researcher from the Belgian Fund for Scientific Research (FRS-FNRS), group leader in the Metabolism and Nutrition research group at the Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI) from the Université catholique de Louvain (UCL), Brussels, Belgium, and WELBIO (Walloon Excellence in Lifesciences and BIOtechnology) investigator. He is currently member of several international associations, he is member of the Alumni College from the Royal Belgian Academy of Sciences, and he has been elected in the board of directors of the LDRI (UCL). Patrice D. Cani has a M.Sc. in Nutrition and another M.Sc. in health Sciences, he is registered dietitian and PhD in Biomedical Sciences. His main research interests are the investigation of the role of the gut microbiota in the development of metabolic disorders, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and low grade inflammation. More specifically, he is investigating the interactions between the gut microbiota, the host and specific biological systems such as the endocannabinoid system and the innate immune system in the context of obesity, type 2 diabetes and metabolic inflammation. Prof Cani is author and co-author of more than 110 scientific research papers published in peer-reviewed international journals, conferences and book chapters.

Genes from the gut microbiota encode for a wide range of metabolic activities that allow commensal microbes to ferment dietary fibers and prebiotics into metabolites that include short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Of these, propionate has been shown to trigger the secretion of gut peptides that take part in regulating appetite and glucose metabolism and reducing inflammation. Although colonic propionate…

Andreu Prados
Andreu Prados holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy & Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Science writer specialised in gut microbiota and probiotics, working also as lecturer and consultant in nutrition and healthcare. Follow Andreu on Twitter @andreuprados

Genes from the gut microbiota encode for a wide range of metabolic activities that allow commensal microbes to ferment dietary fibers and prebiotics into metabolites that include short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Of these, propionate has been shown to trigger the secretion of gut peptides that take part in regulating appetite and glucose metabolism and reducing inflammation. Although colonic propionate…

Andreu Prados
Andreu Prados holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy & Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Science writer specialised in gut microbiota and probiotics, working also as lecturer and consultant in nutrition and healthcare. Follow Andreu on Twitter @andreuprados

Bariatric surgery (BS) appears as a solution for managing cardiovascular risk in people with a severe and morbid Body Mass Index (BMI > 35-40 kg/m2). Although previous research has shown that the gut microbiota profile in obesity is characterized by low microbial gene richness and is correlated with some metabolic and inflammatory markers, little is known about its contribution to…

Paul Enck
Prof. Dr. Paul Enck, Director of Research, Dept. of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tübingen, Germany. His main interests are gut functions in health and disease, including functional and inflammatory bowel disorders, the role of the gut microbiota, regulation of eating and food intake and its disorders, of nausea, vomiting and motion sickness, and the psychophysiology and neurobiology of the placebo response, with specific emphasis on age and gender contributions. He has published more than 170 original data paper in scientific, peer-reviewed journals, and more than 250 book chapters and review articles. He is board member/treasurer of the European Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility and of the German Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, and has served as reviewer for many international journals and grant agencies.

Bariatric surgery (BS) appears as a solution for managing cardiovascular risk in people with a severe and morbid Body Mass Index (BMI > 35-40 kg/m2). Although previous research has shown that the gut microbiota profile in obesity is characterized by low microbial gene richness and is correlated with some metabolic and inflammatory markers, little is known about its contribution to…

Paul Enck
Prof. Dr. Paul Enck, Director of Research, Dept. of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tübingen, Germany. His main interests are gut functions in health and disease, including functional and inflammatory bowel disorders, the role of the gut microbiota, regulation of eating and food intake and its disorders, of nausea, vomiting and motion sickness, and the psychophysiology and neurobiology of the placebo response, with specific emphasis on age and gender contributions. He has published more than 170 original data paper in scientific, peer-reviewed journals, and more than 250 book chapters and review articles. He is board member/treasurer of the European Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility and of the German Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, and has served as reviewer for many international journals and grant agencies.

The existing evidence about a different gut microbiota composition between healthy and obese or type 2 diabetic patients has led scientists to study the role of gut microbes in the onset and development of metabolic diseases. Several mechanisms by which the gut microbiota may interfere with energy metabolism are currently being explored, though it is not fully understood how the…

GMFH Editing Team
GMFH Editing Team

The existing evidence about a different gut microbiota composition between healthy and obese or type 2 diabetic patients has led scientists to study the role of gut microbes in the onset and development of metabolic diseases. Several mechanisms by which the gut microbiota may interfere with energy metabolism are currently being explored, though it is not fully understood how the…

GMFH Editing Team
GMFH Editing Team

Over the past decade of studying the gut microbiome, we have learned that environmental factors related to diet and drugs are major determinants of gut microbiota composition and that their effects outweigh the influence of genetics. The GMFH publishing team is pleased to share a new summary document on the latest evidence regarding the influencing role of diet and probiotics…

GMFH Editing Team
GMFH Editing Team

Over the past decade of studying the gut microbiome, we have learned that environmental factors related to diet and drugs are major determinants of gut microbiota composition and that their effects outweigh the influence of genetics. The GMFH publishing team is pleased to share a new summary document on the latest evidence regarding the influencing role of diet and probiotics…

GMFH Editing Team
GMFH Editing Team

Obesity is currently at pandemic proportions and not only impairs metabolic homeostasis, but is also a risk factor for psychological disorders including depression. Although the underlying mechanisms of these associations are largely unknown, alterations in the communication between the gastrointestinal tract and the nervous system (also called the gut-brain axis) could play a key role. A new study, led by…

Yolanda Sanz
Yolanda Sanz holds a PhD in Pharmacy and is Professor of the National Research Council (CSIC) at the Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA) in Valencia, Spain. She is principal investigator of the Research Unit on Microbial Ecology, Nutrition and Health at IATA-CSIC. Her scientific field of interest is the role of the human microbiota in health and diseases, which affect the immune and neuroendocrine systems. Currently, she coordinates one of the largest EU projects on the human microbiome that integrates 30 partners of the EU and of USA, CA, NZ and AU (MyNewGut; www.mynewgut.eu). Her scientific contributions are reflected in more than 150 articles published in international peer-reviewed journals, 170 participations in conferences and eight patents.

Obesity is currently at pandemic proportions and not only impairs metabolic homeostasis, but is also a risk factor for psychological disorders including depression. Although the underlying mechanisms of these associations are largely unknown, alterations in the communication between the gastrointestinal tract and the nervous system (also called the gut-brain axis) could play a key role. A new study, led by…

Yolanda Sanz
Yolanda Sanz holds a PhD in Pharmacy and is Professor of the National Research Council (CSIC) at the Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA) in Valencia, Spain. She is principal investigator of the Research Unit on Microbial Ecology, Nutrition and Health at IATA-CSIC. Her scientific field of interest is the role of the human microbiota in health and diseases, which affect the immune and neuroendocrine systems. Currently, she coordinates one of the largest EU projects on the human microbiome that integrates 30 partners of the EU and of USA, CA, NZ and AU (MyNewGut; www.mynewgut.eu). Her scientific contributions are reflected in more than 150 articles published in international peer-reviewed journals, 170 participations in conferences and eight patents.

In 2018, the Gut Microbiota for Health (GMFH) digital community has reached an audience that includes scientists, healthcare professionals, and the general public, with 60,000 visits every month from all over the world. These changes reflect an increased awareness of how the gut microbiome influences health. Meanwhile, the number of publications focusing on the gut microbiota in 2018 has hit…

GMFH Editing Team
GMFH Editing Team

In 2018, the Gut Microbiota for Health (GMFH) digital community has reached an audience that includes scientists, healthcare professionals, and the general public, with 60,000 visits every month from all over the world. These changes reflect an increased awareness of how the gut microbiome influences health. Meanwhile, the number of publications focusing on the gut microbiota in 2018 has hit…

GMFH Editing Team
GMFH Editing Team

Rural indigenous populations are nowadays used as a model for studying the current rise in chronic non-communicable diseases, especially obesity. This is down to the previous observation that these populations have the richest and most diverse microbiota ever recorded in humans, including microbial taxa that are absent in westernized populations. Two recent studies explore the impact on the gut microbiome…

Andreu Prados
Andreu Prados holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy & Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Science writer specialised in gut microbiota and probiotics, working also as lecturer and consultant in nutrition and healthcare. Follow Andreu on Twitter @andreuprados

Rural indigenous populations are nowadays used as a model for studying the current rise in chronic non-communicable diseases, especially obesity. This is down to the previous observation that these populations have the richest and most diverse microbiota ever recorded in humans, including microbial taxa that are absent in westernized populations. Two recent studies explore the impact on the gut microbiome…

Andreu Prados
Andreu Prados holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy & Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Science writer specialised in gut microbiota and probiotics, working also as lecturer and consultant in nutrition and healthcare. Follow Andreu on Twitter @andreuprados

Previous research has suggested the gut microbiota's role in the risk of developing metabolic and immune-related disorders later in life. However, no studies have characterized the early-life gut microbiome longitudinally in large populations. Three recent studies shed light on how early-life gut microbiota composition might help identify which children are at risk of developing obesity and type 1 diabetes later…

Andreu Prados
Andreu Prados holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy & Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Science writer specialised in gut microbiota and probiotics, working also as lecturer and consultant in nutrition and healthcare. Follow Andreu on Twitter @andreuprados

Previous research has suggested the gut microbiota's role in the risk of developing metabolic and immune-related disorders later in life. However, no studies have characterized the early-life gut microbiome longitudinally in large populations. Three recent studies shed light on how early-life gut microbiota composition might help identify which children are at risk of developing obesity and type 1 diabetes later…

Andreu Prados
Andreu Prados holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy & Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Science writer specialised in gut microbiota and probiotics, working also as lecturer and consultant in nutrition and healthcare. Follow Andreu on Twitter @andreuprados

The enormous surface area of the human intestinal barrier is key to maintaining a delicate physiological homeostasis. On one hand, it must be optimized for absorption of water and nutrients; on the other hand, it must act as a tight barrier against chemical and microbial challenges - all while protecting us from unnecessary reactions to compounds that are harmful to…

Megan Mouw
Megan Mouw holds a Bachelor of Science in microbiology from McGill University (Canada). Driven by her experiences at UCSF medical center in San Francisco, Megan is passionate about the role that the gut microbiota plays in maintaining health and wellness. She is currently perusing graduate studies in Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology at the University of California Santa Cruz and hopes to share her love of science through writing.

The enormous surface area of the human intestinal barrier is key to maintaining a delicate physiological homeostasis. On one hand, it must be optimized for absorption of water and nutrients; on the other hand, it must act as a tight barrier against chemical and microbial challenges - all while protecting us from unnecessary reactions to compounds that are harmful to…

Megan Mouw
Megan Mouw holds a Bachelor of Science in microbiology from McGill University (Canada). Driven by her experiences at UCSF medical center in San Francisco, Megan is passionate about the role that the gut microbiota plays in maintaining health and wellness. She is currently perusing graduate studies in Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology at the University of California Santa Cruz and hopes to share her love of science through writing.