Research
Micronutrients & recovery
Gut microbiome composition, specifically the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes and the presence of Akkermansia muciniphila, influences obesity and diabetes risk through mechanisms involving short-chain fatty acid production, bile acid metabolism, and gut permeability.
Focus on a diet that supports a healthy gut microbiome, including fiber and diverse plant foods, as this influences the ratio of beneficial bacteria. While probiotics show some promise, they are not a standalone solution for obesity or diabetes.
GoodSupportsMEDIUM confidence
In obese individuals, the proportion and diversity of the microbiome composition are disturbed... increased number of the latter [Firmicutes] in relation to Bacteroidetes... increased gut permeability results in leakage of lipopolysaccharides into the bloodstream, consequently generating chronic inflammation...
Why this rating
Supported by animal studies and some human trials, but the paper notes that direct effects on carbohydrate metabolism in humans are still debated.
Source
Obesity and diabetes—Not only a simple link between two epidemics
Agata Chobot et al. · Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews · 2018
DOI 10.1002/dmrr.3042
narrative_reviewCited 288×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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