ROLE OF GUT MICROFLORA IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OBESITY AND TYPE II DIABETES

Obesity and its associated complications like Type II diabetes are reaching epidemic stages. Increased food intake and lack of exercise are two main contributing factors. Recent work has been highlighting an increasingly more important role of gut microbiota in metabolic disorders. The human gut harbours more than 100 trillion microbial cells, which have an essential role in human metabolic regulation via their symbiotic interactions with the host. The gut microbiota plays a major role in the development of food absorption and low grade inflammation, two key processes in obesity and diabetes. The present review discusses new findings that may explain how gut microbiota can be involved in the development of obesity and insulin resistance. It will further look at the possible ways to harness the beneficial aspects of the gut microbiota to combat these metabolic disorders and reduce their impact. Key words: Gut microbiota, obesity, type II diabetes, metabolic regulation, low grade inflammatio