Wait a minute! There has been increasing talk lately about certain gut bacteria being able to melt away a fat deposit or two. Is this really true? In a recent study¹, researchers actually discovered a gut bacterium that is said to lead to weight loss. This is because gut bacteria not only play an important role in digestion but also have a major influence on our entire body. We take a closer look at the current situation and clarify what is really behind it!
Which bacteria affect metabolism?
The current study ¹ showed that certain strains of the bacterium Ruminococcus torques produce a specific protein that can positively influence metabolism. It is plausible that the protein activates fat tissue, which burns energy and thus produces heat. The research team also observed that people with more body fat had a low number of the bacterium Ruminococcus torques in their digestive tract. Therefore, it is plausible that these bacteria could help with weight loss. These bacterial strains produce two quite effective protein molecules (Rordep1 and Rordep2), which are very similar to the human hormone irisin. This hormone is released as soon as you engage in physical activity and thus plays an important role in fat metabolism.
Do bacteria affect our weight?
Basically, it is plausible that an interplay of many different bacteria can influence weight. What is crucial here is which proteins and metabolic products the bacteria jointly form and how they then influence our metabolism. Ruminococcus is not the first gut bacterium to be associated with weight loss. Billions of bacteria inhabit our intestines and form metabolic products that can reach and influence every cell in our body via the blood – including our weight.
So which bacteria are "fat burners"?
Some bacteria can at least trigger a positive effect. In addition to the bacterium Ruminococcus, the bacterium Akkermansia also shows a positive effect on metabolism. Fat burning can also be boosted. The bacterium Hafnia alvei, on the other hand, produces substances that resemble satiety hormones and keep us full for longer.
So, do we lack gut bacteria when we are overweight?
Unfortunately, it's not that simple. However, studies show that people with obesity do indeed have an altered gut microbiome. At the same time, other bacterial strains are more frequently present there, which make it difficult to lose weight. This condition can be explained by small inflammatory processes found throughout the body of affected individuals, which directly affect the gut and can hinder the remodeling of fat tissue. Because once the sensitive balance of our gut health is out of whack, potentially harmful bacteria, among others, find it easier to settle and multiply.
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