Anyone noticing the spike of articles on gut microbes and its role in obesity? I've noticed a ton of articles over the last year about this fairly new field of study. It's in its infancy but the findings are interesting. The link to how the unique gut biome of individuals are playing a part in health is showing some promising results. Here's a bit from the article I'll link at the bottom...
A few years ago, researchers took the gut microbes from a set of twins—one lean, one obese—and transplanted them into two sets of microbe-free mice. Even though all the mice were on the same diet, the rodents that received the obese twin’s microbes became chubby. The mice that got the lean twin’s mix stayed slim, suggesting that the microbes were calling the shots when it came to the animals’ weight.
In line with those results, another study on lean and obese twins’ microbes suggested that obesity is linked to having altered mixes and lower diversity of gut microbes.
There was also a concerning case last year in which microbes seemed to hijack a woman’s weight after a fecal matter transplant (FMT). She underwent the FMT to treat a recurring intestinal infection from Clostridium difficile. The fecal donor was the woman’s daughter, who was overweight but otherwise healthy. After the transplant, the woman was cured of her infection, but inexplicably gained weight.
Like I said, the field is in its infancy so much is being discovered. But fecal transplants and "poop pills" are starting to become a thing. There's a plethora of articles out there. Just something kinda new hitting the scene.
Freeze dried poop pills being tested for obesity treatment...
http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/01/freeze-dried-poop-pills-being-tested-for-obesity-treatment/
A few years ago, researchers took the gut microbes from a set of twins—one lean, one obese—and transplanted them into two sets of microbe-free mice. Even though all the mice were on the same diet, the rodents that received the obese twin’s microbes became chubby. The mice that got the lean twin’s mix stayed slim, suggesting that the microbes were calling the shots when it came to the animals’ weight.
In line with those results, another study on lean and obese twins’ microbes suggested that obesity is linked to having altered mixes and lower diversity of gut microbes.
There was also a concerning case last year in which microbes seemed to hijack a woman’s weight after a fecal matter transplant (FMT). She underwent the FMT to treat a recurring intestinal infection from Clostridium difficile. The fecal donor was the woman’s daughter, who was overweight but otherwise healthy. After the transplant, the woman was cured of her infection, but inexplicably gained weight.
Like I said, the field is in its infancy so much is being discovered. But fecal transplants and "poop pills" are starting to become a thing. There's a plethora of articles out there. Just something kinda new hitting the scene.
Freeze dried poop pills being tested for obesity treatment...
http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/01/freeze-dried-poop-pills-being-tested-for-obesity-treatment/
