From gut microbiota to brain: implications on binge eating disorders

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Gastroenterology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Eating disorders, including binge eating disorder (BED) and bulimia nervosa (BN), are increasingly prevalent and significantly impact physical and psychological health.
• While binge eating is common to both BED and BN, BN is distinguished by compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current knowledge on the gut-brain axis mechanisms contributing to binge eating behaviors.
• To explore potential microbiome-based therapeutic interventions for binge eating disorders.

Main Methods:

• This review synthesizes existing research on the gut-brain axis and eating disorders.
• It examines the roles of gut dysbiosis, metabolites, and central reward circuitry in binge eating pathology.

Main Results:

• Emerging evidence suggests that gut microbiome dysbiosis and alterations in the gut-brain axis are implicated in the etiology of BED and BN.
• Malfunctioning central circuitry involved in motivation, execution, and reward also contributes to binge eating behaviors.

Conclusions:

• The gut-brain axis, particularly the gastrointestinal microbiome, plays a significant role in the development of binge eating disorders.
• Targeting the gut microbiome offers a promising avenue for developing novel therapeutic strategies for individuals with BED and BN.