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Updated: Jul 15, 2025
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Intracerebroventricular Delivery of Gut-Derived Microbial Metabolites in Freely Moving Mice
Published on: June 2, 2022
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Microbiota-gut-brain axis drives overeating disorders
Sijia Fan1, Weiwei Guo1, Dan Xiao1
1Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China.
Cell Metabolism
|October 5, 2023
Summary
Alterations in gut bacteria contribute to overeating disorders (ODs) by affecting the gut-brain axis. Probiotic supplements can restore gut health and alleviate OD symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Microbiome research
- Neuroscience
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Overeating disorders (ODs) are prevalent, with unclear pathological mechanisms.
- Dieting history and stress are common triggers for ODs.
- The role of the gut microbiota in ODs is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of intestinal microbiota in overeating behaviors.
- To elucidate the gut-brain axis pathway involved in ODs.
- To identify potential therapeutic targets for ODs.
Main Methods:
- Studied overeating disorder (OD) mice and patients with bulimia nervosa (BN).
- Analyzed changes in intestinal microbiota and metabolism.
- Investigated the gut-brain axis via vagus nerve signaling.
- Utilized probiotic transplantation and metabolite supplementation.
Main Results:
- Altered gut microbiota and metabolism were observed in OD mice and BN patients.
- These changes disinhibited vagus nerve terminals, leading to gut-brain axis hyperactivation.
- Probiotic *Faecalibacterium prausnitzii* or metabolite supplementation restored gut-brain pathway activity.
- OD symptoms were alleviated by these interventions.
Conclusions:
- Gut microbiota alterations are a key factor in the pathogenesis of overeating disorders.
- The microbiota-gut-brain axis plays a critical role in mediating energy balance.
- Microbiota-targeted therapies show promise for treating overeating disorders.
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