Subscribe

Receive updates about our latest products in your inbox

Register For Our Next Webinar

Multivitamins: One Size Does Not Fit All

About Us

For over 40 years, Biotics Research Corporation has revolutionized the nutritional supplement industry by utilizing “The Best of Science and Nature”. Combining nature’s principles with scientific ingenuity, our products magnify the nutritional

Search the Blog

  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

Molecule Links Weight Gain to Gut Bacteria

iStock-1163670497 copyUT Southwestern scientists have discovered a key driver behind the communication that helps synchronize nutrient absorption in the gut and the rhythms of the Earth’s day-night light cycle.

Previous studies show that circadian rhythmicity is a defining feature in the metabolism of mammals. It synchronizes metabolic processes to day-night light cycles. It isn’t surprising, therefore, that the gut microbiota also displays daily cycling. 

During this fascinating study on mice, the researchers found that commensal, or good, bacteria can do this epigenetically. The bacteria induce the rhythmic expression of a protein called histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) in the skin cells of the small intestine. This expression drives the oscillations in intestinal metabolic gene expression, particularly with regard to nutrient transport and lipid metabolism. HDAC3 also directly activates estrogen-related receptor alpha, which promotes the absorption of fats. 

This means that the mice that lack the essential good bacteria that regulate their metabolism also become obese on high-fat chow. It could also explain antibiotic-related obesity, as well as obesity that’s related to sleep disruption due to jet lag and night-time working.

 

Related Biotics Research Products:

MetabolicBiome Plus

 

Submit your comment

Related Post

Obesity & The Microbiome

BMC Microbiology recently published a meta-analysis of metagenomic sequencing data from obese and non-obese participants...

Learn more

Oral Immunotherapy & the Microbiome

Results of a prospective and longitudinal study conducted among schoolchildren were recently published in Allergology In...

Learn more

Cranberry Extract & the Microbiota

Results of a small human clinical trial recently published in NPJ Biofilms and Microbiomes indicate that short-term use ...

Learn more