The Importance of the Gut Microbiota in Body Weight Control and Insulin Sensitivity

The view on the putative significance of gut microbiota in metabolism emerged from animal studies. Bäcked et al. showed that germ free mice had 40% less body fat compared to conventionally raised mice. Transplantation of a cecum-derived microbial community of conventional mice into germ free mice, resulted in a significant increase of body weight and insulin resistance within 2 weeks. Application of metagenomic techniques in leptin-deficient ob/ob mice showed a different proportion of bacteria belonging when compared to lean, wild-type or heterozygous mice, with a greater representation of Firmicutes and fewer Bacteroidetes. This obese gut microbiome showed an enrichment in genes involved in energy extraction from food, less energy left over in the faeces and higher contents of the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) propionate, acetate and butyrate in the cecum.

Furthermore, microbiota composition may alter gut permeability, and may play a role in the development of metabolic endotoxemia (inflammation) and related impairments in glucose metabolism. In addition, the gut microbiota may determine AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) levels in muscle and liver, thereby affecting fatty acid oxidation (substrate metabolism) and fat storage. However, underlying mechanisms are not completely understood.

Therefore, researchers within the Top Institute Food and Nutrition (TIFN) have designed a multidisciplinary project ('Microbiota, energy balance and metabolism'), to fill the unmet gap between gut microbiota and human energy metabolism. The current protocol is designed to clarify the role of the gut microbiota in host energy metabolism and insulin sensitivity, with the main focus on underlying mechanisms.

Inclusion criteria

• male
• 35-70 years
• caucasian
• overweight/obese (BMI 25-35 kg/m2)
• insulin resistant (Homeostasis Model of Assessment - Insulin Resistance (HOMA_IR) > 2.2)
• impaired glucose tolerance (IGT: 2h plasma glucose during 75g Oral Glucose Tolerance Test(OGTT) 7.8-11.1 mmol/l) and/or impaired fasting glucose (plasma glucose ≥ 5.6 mmol/l)
• body weight stable for at least three months (±3 kg)

Exclusion criteria

• known allergic reaction to vancomycin, teicoplanin, amoxicillin and other β-lactam antibiotics (penicillins and cefalosporins) or related antibiotics
• diabetes mellitus
• hearing disorders
• cardiovascular disease
• kidney disease
• gastrointestinal disease
• cancer
• asthma or bronchitis
• liver malfunction
• major illness with a life expectancy < 5 years
• diseases affecting glucose tolerance (e.g. pheochromocytoma, Cushing's syndrome, acromegaly), - - use of antibiotics in the past 3 months
• plans to lose weight and participation in organized sports activities for >3 hours per week
• The use of β-blockers, lipid lowering-drugs, glucose-lowering agents (including all sulfonylureas, biguanides, α-glucosidase inhibitors, thiazolidinediones, repaglinide, nateglinide and insulin), anti-oxidants or chronic corticosteroids treatment (> 7 consecutive days of treatment)