Efficacy of microbiome-targeted interventions in obesity management- A comprehensive systematic review

Obesity is a global health crisis linked to numerous chronic diseases. The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in human metabolism, and emerging evidence suggests that modulating the microbiome may offer novel therapeutic avenues for obesity management.

This systematic review aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of microbiome-targeted interventions, including probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation, in improving body composition, metabolic parameters, and inflammatory markers in overweight and obese adults.

A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect was conducted to identify relevant studies published between 2005 and 2023. Included studies were assessed for methodological quality and risk of bias using the Cochrane Collaboration tool.

Body composition: Most studies demonstrated significant reductions in body weight, Body mass index, and body fat percentage.

Improvements were observed in lipid profiles (reduced cholesterol, triglycerides) and glucose metabolism (improved insulin sensitivity).

Significant reductions were observed in inflammatory markers such as Interleukins (IL-6, IL-8) and C-reactive protein.

Interventions generally led to shifts in microbial composition, with increases in beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus.

Adverse events were generally minimal and limited.

This review provides strong evidence that microbiome-targeted interventions can effectively improve body composition, metabolic parameters, and inflammatory markers in individuals with obesity. Further research is needed to optimize intervention strategies, identify specific microbial targets, and translate these findings into effective clinical applications.