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Review
. 2020 Apr 7:11:297.
doi: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00297. eCollection 2020.

The Role of the Gut Microbiome in Energy Balance With a Focus on the Gut-Adipose Tissue Axis

Han Xiao  1 , Sona Kang  1
Affiliations
Review

The Role of the Gut Microbiome in Energy Balance With a Focus on the Gut-Adipose Tissue Axis

Han Xiao et al. Front Genet. .

Abstract

Obesity is a complex disease attributable to many factors including genetics and environmental influences. Growing evidence suggests that gut microbiota is a major contributing factor to the pathogenesis of obesity and other metabolic disorders. This article reviews the current understanding of the role of gut microbiota in the regulation of energy balance and the development of obesity, and how the microbiota communicates with host tissues, in particular adipose tissue. We discuss several external factors that interfere with the interplay between gut microbiota and host tissue metabolism, including cold exposure, diet regimens, and genetic manipulations. We also review the role of diet-derived metabolites that regulate thermogenesis and thus energy homeostasis. Among the gut microbial metabolites, we emphasize short-chain fatty acids, which could be utilized by the host as a direct energy source while regulating the appetite of the host through the gut-brain axis.

Keywords: adipose tissue; metabolism; microbiome; obesity; type 2 diabetes.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Model representation of the effects of environment-induced altered microbiota on adipose tissue biology.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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