Gut Microbiota: A Contributing Factor to Obesity.
Obesity, a global epidemic of the modern era, is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and diabetes. The pervasiveness of obesity and overweight in both developed as well as developing populations is on the rise and placing a huge burden on health and economic resources. Consequently, research to control this emerging epidemic is of utmost importance. Recently, host interactions with their resident gut microbiota (GM) have been reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of many metabolic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, and CVD. Around 10(14) microorganisms reside within the lower human intestine and many of these 10(14) microorganisms have developed mutualistic or commensal associations with the host and actively involved in many physiological processes of the host. However, dysbiosis (altered gut microbial composition) with other predisposing genetic and environmental factors, may contribute to host metabolic disorders resulting in many ailments. Therefore, delineating the role of GM as a contributing factor to obesity is the main objective of this review. Obesity research, as a field is expanding rapidly due to major advances in nutrigenomics, metabolomics, RNA silencing, epigenetics, and other disciplines that may result in the emergence of new technologies and methods to better interpret causal relationships between microbiota and obesity.
Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Steve M
SM
Harakeh
Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz UniversityJeddah, Saudi Arabia; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz UniversityJeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Imran
I
Khan
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz UniversityJeddah, Saudi Arabia; Experimental Biochemistry Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz UniversityJeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Taha
T
Kumosani
Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of BeirutBeirut, Lebanon; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz UniversityJeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Elie
E
Barbour
Biology Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Saad B
SB
Almasaudi
Clinical Biochemistry Department, College of Medicine, Nutrition Unit-King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Suhad M
SM
Bahijri
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Sulaiman M
SM
Alfadul
Clinical Biochemistry Department, College of Medicine, Nutrition Unit-King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Ghada M A
GM
Ajabnoor
Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz UniversityJeddah, Saudi Arabia; Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Science, King Abdulaziz UniversityJeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Esam I
EI
Azhar
D000818:Animals; D064806:Dysbiosis / Q000150:complications*; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology*
GM-obesity dilema; Saudi Arabia; food; gut microbiota; obesity