In view of recent publications on possible use of synbiotics to control obesity in chilren, can anybody explain the mode of action of synbiotics to combat obesity in children?
Hello,
The gut microbiota is implicated in a variety of host functions involving intestinal development and function, including epithelial turnover, immune modulation, gastrointestinal motility, and drug metabolism.
Microbiota has important metabolic functions, breaking down dietary toxins and carcinogens, synthesizing micronutrients, fermenting indigestible food substances, assisting in the absorption of certain electrolytes and trace minerals, and affecting the growth of enterocytes through the production of short-chain fatty acids.
Microbiota helps to prevent luminal colonization by pathogenic bacteria.
The composition of flora differs between individuals, with each person having unique strains that generally remain constant overtime.
There are studies proving that administration of probiotics leads to statistically significant reduction of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, IL-1β, IFN-γ) in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Thank you for your question.
Chandraprakash, I was afraid that I may have killed your thread and was planning to come back and add the information I should have given you earlier. I am glad that Maria has done that.
But laws of conservation of energy still hold true - synbiotics help but alone, it is not enough.
Come to think of it, I did see a publication where microbiota was implicated in obesity. I need to dig up that information, if true, that changes things! ;)
Addendum:
In a quick search I found the publication I had read a couple of years ago. It shows the reverse - transfer of microbiota from obese rats to normal, turns them into fat rats.
Replication of Obesity and Associated Signaling Pathways Through Transfer of Microbiota From Obese-Prone Rats
Diabetes Volume 63, May 2014
http://diabetes.diabetesjournals.org/content/63/5/1624.full.pdf
You may find this review article useful:
Gut microbiota, nutrient sensing and energy balance
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dom.12340/full
I am deleting my original response.
Thanks a lot dear Dr. Maria and Dr. Tausif for valuable inputs!!! I am waiting for some more replies!!
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