Our gut microbiome impacts our weight: the twin study

In the twin study on faecal transplants into mice, researchers investigated the influence of gut microbes on body weight and metabolism by transplanting faecal samples from human twins discordant for obesity (one obese twin and one lean twin) into germ-free mice. The mice lacked their own gut microbiota, making them ideal recipients for studying the effects.

When faecal samples from the obese twin were transplanted into germ-free mice, the recipient mice exhibited an increase in body weight, adiposity (belly fat), and metabolic dysfunction compared to mice that received faecal samples from the lean twin. These findings suggested that the gut microbiota of the obese twin promoted weight gain and obesity in the recipient mice.

Conversely, when faecal samples from the lean twin were transplanted into germ-free mice, the recipient mice maintained a lean phenotype and did not exhibit significant weight gain or metabolic dysfunction. This indicated that the gut microbiota of the lean twin conferred a protective effect against obesity and metabolic disorders.

Further analysis revealed differences in the composition and function of gut microbiota between mice that received faecal samples from the obese twin and those that received samples from the lean twin. Specifically, certain bacterial strains were enriched in the gut microbiota of mice that developed obesity, while others were associated with a lean phenotype.

Overall, the study provided compelling evidence that gut microbes play a crucial role in regulating body weight and metabolism. It highlighted the potential therapeutic implications of modulating gut microbiota composition to prevent or treat obesity and associated metabolic disorders.

Gut health is one of the things I assess for Weight Loss Resistance, or difficulty losing weight, particularly in menopause.