Research
Hormonal
Gut microbes influence host metabolism and adiposity through signaling pathways involving inflammation (LPS), insulin resistance, and endocrine hormones (GLP-1, GLP-2, PYY).
Your gut bacteria produce substances that signal your brain and body to store fat or become inflamed. A high-fat diet can increase these harmful signals (like LPS), while a diet rich in fiber may support beneficial bacteria that produce hormones (like GLP-1) promoting satiety and metabolic health.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
The gastrointestinal microbiota have been shown to impact insulin resistance, inflammation, and adiposity via interactions with epithelial and endocrine cells.
Why this rating
Strong mechanistic evidence from animal models and some human correlational studies.
Source
Obesity and the human microbiome
Ruth E. Ley · Current Opinion in Gastroenterology · 2009
DOI 10.1097/mog.0b013e328333d751
narrative_reviewCited 771×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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