Microbiota and microbiome in relation to diabetes and obesity

Millions of microorganisms compose the human gut microbiota, essential for maintaining metabolic health. Recent research has shown that the gut microbiome of people with obesity and diabetes changes significantly in composition and functionality. These changes are characterized by a decrease in diversity and an overrepresentation of certain microbial agents that have detrimental metabolic effects. Dysbiosis, an imbalance in the gut microbiota, contributes to the development and progression of metabolic disorders in several ways, including increased intestinal permeability, inflammation, and altered dietary energy utilization. This review focuses on how microbial populations affect glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and adiposity, with the goal of elucidating the complex relationships between gut microbiota and metabolic health. In addition, we investigate treatment options such as probiotics, prebiotics and fecal microbiota transplants as potential avenues to regulate the gut microbiome. Understanding the complex interplay between the host and the microbiome promises new ways to diagnose and treat these metabolic disorders.