The human intestine is composed of billions of bacteria that have co-evolved with their host so as to end up in a strictly controlled harmonious relationship (symbiosis). A disturbance in this arrangement, particularly during modifications of the composition of the flora, is associated with development of certain pathologies such as chronic inflammatory bowel diseases and metabolic diseases. An increase in consumption of foods rich in fat and decreased consumption of fibers is suspected of being implicated in development of these diseases.

One study showed that genetically identical mice fed the same fat-rich diet developed diabetes in only 60% of cases. Thus, genetics and diet were not the only factors responsible for the cases observed, since 40% of mice did not develop diabetes. That same research team investigated the composition of the gut flora in two groups of animals and showed differences that might explain this variability. Moreover, treatment of these animals with a prebiotic (gluco-oligosaccharide, or GOS) led to improvement in metabolic parameters in diabetic mice  concomitant with a change in their gut flora.

These studies once again demonstrate the influence of gut microbiota upon health and open up new perspectives for use of prebiotics in metabolic diseases.

References:

1. Burcelin R, Crivelli V, Dacosta A, Roy-Tirelli A and Thorens B. Heterogeneous metabolic adaptation of C57BL/6J mice to high-fat diet. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2002;282:E834-42

2. Serino M, Luche E, Gres S, et al. Metabolic adaptation to a high-fat diet is associated with a change in the gut microbiota. Gut 2011