The role of gut microbiota in obesity and its potential therapeutic treatments - A Literature Review

Abstract

Background. Obesity is a complex disorder driven by genetics, diet, and gut microbiota. The microbiome critically influences metabolic health, energy harvesting, and hunger via the microbiota-gut-brain axis, with gut dysbiosis strongly linked to obesity and cardiometabolic diseases.

Aim. This review summarizes how gut microbiota influences fat accumulation and explores microbiome-targeted therapies for obesity management.

Material and methods. This comprehensive PubMed literature review evaluates five microbiome-targeted obesity interventions (probiotics, prebiotics, symbiotics, postbiotics, and FMT). The analyzed research spans from early germ-free animal models to modern human clinical trials.

Results. Animal studies demonstrate that obesity is transmissible via gut microbiota and that interventions (like probiotics and FMT) successfully improve metabolic profiles, boost satiety hormones, and reduce inflammation. However, human clinical trials show mixed results: while metabolic markers (e.g., glucose tolerance) often improve, sustained weight loss remains highly variable and depends heavily on specific bacterial strains, dosage, and donor-recipient compatibility.

Conclusions. The gut microbiome is a major factor in obesity and a promising therapeutic target. While treatments like probiotics, prebiotics, and FMT improve overall metabolic health, further research on treatment optimization, patient compatibility, and long-term safety is required before their standard clinical application for weight loss.