Gut bacteria determines best diet for weight loss

A new Swiss research can allow for "tailored" diet advice - based on personal gut microbiome - for those who want to lose weight and reduce the risk of disease.
Scientists at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have for the first time identified in detail how some of our most common intestinal bacteria interact during metabolism.
The researchers have developed a mathematical calculation platform that makes it possible to predict how different patients will respond to a modified diet, depending on how their gut microbiome is composed.
"This method allows us to begin identifying each individual bacteria type's metabolism and thus get a handle on the basic mechanisms in human metabolism," said Jens Nielsen, professor of systems biology at Chalmers and head of the research team.

There can be up to 1,000 different types of bacteria and other microorganisms in the human digestive system, many of which take part in metabolism in one way or another.
Research over the past few years has shown that there is a connection between some diseases and the composition of the gut microbiome.

"This is clear as regards type 2 diabetes, hardening of the arteries and obesity, for example. There are also indications that the same might apply to depression and the body's ability to respond to various cancer treatments," said Nielsen.
In a study that was published in Cell Metabolism, researchers prove, through clinical trials, that the mathematical modelling they developed works.

In the study, the gut microbiome was characterised for individuals in a group of overweight patients, and then they were put on a weight loss diet. Everyone lost weight, which was expected.
In patients with low-diversity gut microbiome, however, the content of several substances that generally indicate health risks was also reduced in the individuals' blood and faeces.
This was a deviation from the patients who had gut microbiome with greater "biological diversity". Their health situation was not affected to the same extent.
The systems biologists from Chalmers with their modelling tools have largely been able to explain why both patient groups reacted as they did to the diet.

"Amongst other things, we have been able to demonstrate that the intestines of the individuals with low-diversity gut microbiome produce fewer amino acids when they follow this diet. This is one explanation for the improved blood chemistry," said Nielsen.
In the short term, Nielsen believes the research will make it easier for physicians to identify overweight patients who are at higher risk of cardiometabolic disease and could truly achieve major health benefits by modifying their diet and losing weight.
Fairly soon it should be possible to design diet recommendations that take the gut microbiome of individual patients into account.