Modulation of the intestinal microbiota and pathogenesis of obesity

The group of microorganisms that colonize the gastrointestinal tract is known as the intestinal microbiota. The number of these exceeds ten times the number of somatic cells and one hundred times the number of host genes. The intestinal microbiota in the human body has functions in the process of food digestion, energy absorption, and immune modulation, which are fundamental for the maintenance of health. Changes in the composition of the gut microbiota begin after birth due to the effects of nutrition and metabolic status. Compositional modifications have drawn attention to their role in the development of obesity, as dysbiosis can after the permeability of the intestinal barrier, leading to metabolic changes associated with endotoxemia. Beneficial compositional changes can be achieved through both modification of dietary habits and the use of some substances that promote these changes. Modulation of the effects of the intestinal microbiota with the use of prebiotics and probiotics has demonstrated effects on both anthropometric and metabolic parameters. The aim of this review was to evaluate the association between gut microbiota modulation and the pathogenesis of obesity.