Obesity: can a healthy gut microbiome contribute to treatment?

If the intestinal microbiome is unbalanced, chronic diseases or micro-inflammations often ensue. What role does intestinal flora dysfunction play in grade III obesity?

Do biotin deficiency and gut bacteria play a key role?

• Researchers carried out metagenomic analyses in over 1,500 participants.
• The study was supplemented by investigations on animal models.
• A BMI of over 35 kg/m² is associated with a deficiency of biotin-producing bacteria in the intestinal flora. 
• This deficiency can be both genetically determined and caused by antibiotic administration.
• Substitution of biotin and prebiotics can support the intestinal microbiome. It led to slower weight gain in the mouse model.

Gut microbiome: the cause of many diseases?

In recent years, researchers have been paying more attention to intestinal flora. Studies have proven that a microbiome that is out of balance is linked to micro-inflammations and some chronic and acute diseases. However, it is still unclear whether the disturbed flora is the origin of the diseases or contributes to their maintenance and development. In recent years, for example, a connection has been established between disturbed bacterial colonies and depression, and even diabetes.

Gut bacteria and obesity: is there a connection?

Although it is known that grade III obesity (also known as morbid obesity, or permagna) and a disturbed intestinal flora are linked, it was not entirely clear how. Researchers have looked into this issue and conducted a large-scale study, both in clinical and animal models.

For this purpose, genomic studies of people with severe obesity were carried out. In addition, researchers examined the intestinal flora of mice after antibiotic administration and after bariatric surgery.

Is biotin the solution?

All the studies had one thing in common: a lack of circulating biotin or too few biotin-producing bacteria in the intestinal flora. Both the genomic studies and the experiments on animal models were able to prove this.

The only exception: after bariatric surgery, biotin levels were higher than in the comparison, due to an improved metabolism and reduced inflammatory activity.

What are the benefits of biotin substitution?

The study authors were able to show that mice fed with a high-fat diet developed a more diverse intestinal flora when given biotin and prebiotics. This led to increased growth of biotin-producing bacteria and slower weight gain.

There is thus a clear link between biotin and obesity. Substitution in combination with prebiotics could help to keep the intestinal flora healthy and thus prevent a deficiency of biotin-producing bacteria.