Relação entre microbiota intestinal e obesidade

Abstract

Chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death and illness in the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) it is the world's biggest chronic health problem in adults and it is expected that by 2030, 60% of the world population will be overweight or obese if current trends continue. Obesity is a disease primarily characterized by an increase in body fat stores due to an energy imbalance. As conditioning factors of obesity, diet rich in fats and sugars and excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods, associated with physical inactivity, stand out. Thus, in recent years, many studies have studied the relationship between obesity and the intestinal microbiota. The intestinal microbiota is a population of microscopic organisms that is considered an endocrine organ involved in maintaining the host's energy homeostasis. Research has provided much evidence of the contribution of bacteria to obesity, showing that the proportion of bacteria is different in obese people. Thus, it was realized that the use of some types of food and some microorganisms, known as pre and probiotics, could improve the interactions between intestinal microbes and the metabolism of obese people. Therefore, the present study aimed to present the current state of knowledge about the role of the gut microbiota in the development of obesity and the impact that pre- and probiotic supplementation has on the health of overweight or obese patients.