title: Insights into the role of the microbiome in obesity and type 2 diabetes.
abstract: The worldwide prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) continues to rise at an alarming pace. Recently the potential role of the gut microbiome in these metabolic disorders has been identified. Obesity is associated with changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiota, and the obese microbiome seems to be more efficient in harvesting energy from the diet. Lean male donor fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in males with metabolic syndrome resulted in a significant improvement in insulin sensitivity in conjunction with an increased intestinal microbial diversity, including a distinct increase in butyrate-producing bacterial strains. Such differences in gut microbiota composition might function as early diagnostic markers for the development of T2DM in high-risk patients. Products of intestinal microbes such as butyrate may induce beneficial metabolic effects through enhancement of mitochondrial activity, prevention of metabolic endotoxemia, and activation of intestinal gluconeogenesis via different routes of gene expression and hormone regulation. Future research should focus on whether bacterial products (like butyrate) have the same effects as the intestinal bacteria that produce it, in order to ultimately pave the way for more successful interventions for obesity and T2DM. The rapid development of the currently available techniques, including use of fecal transplantations, has already shown promising results, so there is hope for novel therapies based on the microbiota in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Annick V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Hartstra
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Kristien E C
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Bouter
authors.affiliation: Wallenberg Laboratory, Sahlgrenska Center for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research, University of Göteborg, Göteborg, Sweden Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Section for Metabolic Receptology and Enteroendocrinology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Fredrik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bäckhed
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands Wallenberg Laboratory, Sahlgrenska Center for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research, University of Göteborg, Göteborg, Sweden m.nieuwdorp@amc.uva.nl.
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nieuwdorp
mesh_terms: D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000382:microbiology*; D004032:Diet; D019446:Endotoxemia / Q000517:prevention & control; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D064307:Microbiota; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic