Gut Microbiota as a Therapeutic Target for Metabolic Disorders

Title:Gut Microbiota as a Therapeutic Target for Metabolic Disorders

Volume: 25 Issue: 9

Author(s): Hirofumi Okubo, Yusuke Nakatsu, Akifumi Kushiyama, Takeshi Yamamotoya, Yasuka Matsunaga, Masa-ki Inoue, Midori Fujishiro, Hideaki Sakoda, Haruya Ohno, Masayasu Yoneda, Hiraku Ono and Tomoichiro Asano*

Affiliation:

• Department of Medical Chemistry, Division of Molecular Medical Science, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima,Japan

Keywords: Gut microbiota, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, prebiotics, probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation.

Abstract: Background: Gut microbiota play a vital role not only in the digestion and absorption of nutrients, but also in homeostatic maintenance of host immunity, metabolism and the gut barrier. Recent evidence suggests that gut microbiota alterations contribute to the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders.

Objective and Method: In this review, we discuss the association between the gut microbiota and metabolic disorders, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and the contribution of relevant modulating interventions, focusing on recent human studies.

Results: Several studies have identified potential causal associations between gut microbiota and metabolic disorders, as well as the underlying mechanisms. The effects of modulating interventions, such as prebiotics, probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and other new treatment possibilities on these metabolic disorders have also been reported.

Conclusion: A growing body of evidence highlights the role of gut microbiota in the development of dysbiosis, which in turn influences host metabolism and disease phenotypes. Further studies are required to elucidate the precise mechanisms by which gut microbiota-derived mediators induce metabolic disorders and modulating interventions exert their beneficial effects in humans. The gut microbiota represents a novel potential therapeutic target for a range of metabolic disorders.

Cite this article as:

Okubo Hirofumi , Nakatsu Yusuke , Kushiyama Akifumi , Yamamotoya Takeshi , Matsunaga Yasuka , Inoue Masa-ki , Fujishiro Midori, Sakoda Hideaki , Ohno Haruya , Yoneda Masayasu, Ono Hiraku and Asano Tomoichiro*, Gut Microbiota as a Therapeutic Target for Metabolic Disorders, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2018; 25 (9) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0929867324666171009121702