The multifactorial interplay of diet, the microbiome and appetite control: current knowledge and future challenges

Area of Science:

• Microbiome research
• Human health and disease
• Metabolic regulation

Background:

• High-throughput sequencing advances microbiome analysis for human health.
• Gut microbiome's role in obesity and metabolic health is under investigation.
• Microbial metabolites, like short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), impact energy balance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the dynamic interplay of diet, microbiome, and physical activity on energy intake.
• To explore the microbiome's contribution to the obesity epidemic.
• To propose modeling strategies for understanding these dynamic interactions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent scientific studies.
• Analysis of factors influencing energy intake (EI).
• Hypothesizing dynamic, non-steady-state interactions.

Main Results:

• Energy yield from dietary residues significantly influences energy balance.
• Diet composition, microbiome, and physical activity collectively govern EI.
• These factors exhibit dynamic short- and medium-term effects on appetite.

Conclusions:

• Gut microbiome, diet, and physical activity are key, dynamic regulators of energy balance and appetite.
• Chemostat culture modeling can elucidate these interactions.
• Optimizing dietary and microbial therapies requires understanding these dynamics.