Gut Microbiota in Metabolic Syndrome: Differences in Microbial Signatures and Clinical Profiles

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex and heterogeneous condition characterized by the coexistence of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension, chronic low-grade inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction. Increasing evidence suggests that the gut microbiota plays a central role in the development and progression of MetS by influencing host metabolism, intestinal barrier integrity, immune activation, endocrine signaling, and vascular homeostasis. This narrative review summarizes current evidence regarding gut microbiota alterations across major obesity-related metabolic phenotypes, including obesity alone, obesity complicated by T2DM, and obesity associated with hypertension. Obesity is generally characterized by reduced microbial diversity, depletion of beneficial taxa such as Faecalibacteriumprausnitzii and Akkermansia muciniphila, impaired short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) signaling, increased intestinal permeability, and metabolic endotoxemia. The coexistence of T2DM is associated with a more pronounced depletion of butyrate-producing bacteria, altered bile acid metabolism, impaired incretin signaling, and enhanced inflammatory activation that may contribute to insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. In hypertensive obesity, gut dysbiosis appears to preferentially involve disturbances within the gut-vascular axis, including reduced SCFA-producing taxa, increased trimethylamine N-oxide production, endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and vascular inflammation. Although microbial signatures partially overlap among metabolic phenotypes, functional alterations in microbial metabolites and host-microbiota interactions may better explain disease heterogeneity than isolated taxonomic changes. Current evidence supports the potential role of microbiota-targeted interventions and integrated multi-omics approaches in future precision medicine strategies for cardiometabolic disease prevention and management.