An update on the microbiome and allergic diseases

31 Dec 2018

by Marina Pérez-Gordo

Gut microbiota is the human body's most complex, diverse and numerous ecosystem of all, particularly in the caecum, where the density of microorganisms is the highest.

In a recent paper by Perry et al., researchers describe an investigation into the putative mechanisms by which gut microbiota alterations may lead to obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome. Authors describe increased production of acetate by altered gut microbiota in rats. They link this to activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, increased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, higher ghrelin secretion, hyperphagia, and obesity. Thus, they point to increased acetate production as a driver of metabolic syndrome.

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