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Gut microbiota as a novel therapeutic target for eating disorders and obesity
The connection between the gut and the brain significantly influences dietary habits and metabolic health. Central to this relationship is the gut-brain axis, a communication network that links the central nervous system with intestinal microbiota. Studies indicate that adopting a Western diet disrupts the balance of the gut microbiota, leading to dysbiosis. This change can alter eating behaviors, resulting in compulsive-like eating patterns.
The gut microbiota affects brain function through several pathways. These include the activation of vagal afferents, modulation of immune responses, and the production of metabolites by gut bacteria. Such interactions modify brain processes related to metabolism and reward, which are essential for regulating eating behavior. Specifically, dysbiosis affects the hypothalamic mechanisms that control satiety, consequently influencing appetite and energy regulation.
Moreover, the gut microbiota contributes to hedonic feeding by modulating dopamine activity in the mesolimbic system. Neuroinflammation emerges as a significant factor in the gut-brain axis. Dysbiosis can lead to increased intestinal permeability, allowing microbial components to enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammation. This interplay between metabolic, inflammatory, and reward systems underscores the potential for gut microbiota modulation as a therapeutic strategy for obesity and eating disorders.
Current research is exploring various interventions to restore microbial balance, such as prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, synbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation. This review emphasizes the intricate neurobehavioral regulation of feeding and its implications, with a particular focus on the mechanisms of the gut-brain axis. [NPID: Hedonic, microbiota, dietary habits, Western diet, obesity, probiotics]
Year: 2026
