Can a Pill Transform Your Gut Microbiome to Combat Obesity and Related Diseases?

New Delhi, Aug 30 (NationPress) The consumption of beneficial gut bacteria in pill form could represent a breakthrough in efforts to address weight management and combat the metabolic syndrome that heightens the risk of heart disease and diabetes, as revealed by recent research.

Metabolic syndrome comprises a group of five health issues: elevated blood pressure, high blood glucose, increased waist circumference, high triglycerides in the bloodstream, and low levels of HDL (the ‘good’ cholesterol).

The findings, published in the esteemed journal Nature Communications, demonstrated that transferring healthy gut bacteria through a single capsule can yield remarkable health improvements.

A research team from the University of Auckland conducted a study involving 87 obese adolescents to determine if faecal microbiota transfer (the process of administering 'good' gut bacteria from healthy individuals in capsule form to those with an unhealthy microbiome) could positively influence their health and weight.

Although the adolescents did not experience weight loss, they also did not gain any weight, noted Professor Wayne Cutfield from the University’s Liggins Institute.

More significantly, Cutfield emphasized the effect on metabolic syndrome. Notably, the overweight teenagers who underwent the transfer exhibited a decreased risk for several metabolic alterations that could lead to heart disease, stroke, and diabetes compared to those who received a placebo.

“More than one-third of the original teenage participants in our research presented with metabolic syndrome,” Cutfield stated. “This condition has serious repercussions, including a doubled risk of mortality from heart disease or stroke and a five-fold increase in the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.

“What is remarkable is that a single FMT (faecal microbiota transplantation) treatment led to a substantial reduction in metabolic syndrome that persisted for at least four years. This suggests that participants are at a significantly lower risk of developing diabetes and heart disease in the long run,” the expert explained.

Importantly, after four years, the healthy bacteria introduced were still flourishing in the intestines of participants who had consumed the capsules, remarked Professor Justin O’Sullivan from the university.

“Envision being able to adjust your microbiome to lessen the chances of diseases before they manifest. This research is paving the way for next-generation probiotics designed to address specific conditions through enduring modifications to the microbiome,” O’Sullivan commented.

“Our ultimate goal is to create a powerful blend of bacteria that can be utilized to prevent or alleviate metabolic syndrome,” Cutfield concluded.