Gut microbiota and obesity: implications for fecal microbiota transplantation therapy

Abstract

Obesity is a major public health issue as it is causally associated with several chronic disorders, including type-2 diabetes, cerebrovascular disease (CVD), and cancer. In the United States and other countries worldwide, the obesity epidemic has drastically impacted the status of health of millions as well as healthcare costs. Aside from poor diet, hygiene, and genetics, there are many other factors thought to play an important role in the emergence of obesity. Nowadays, accumulating evidence is elucidating the relation of dysbiosis of intestinal bacteria with obesity and metabolic disorders. Certain gut microbial strains have been shown to inhibit or attenuate immune responses related to chronic inflammation in experimental models, suggesting that specific species among gut microbiota may play either a protective or a pathogenic role in the progression of obesity. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) can therefore represent a therapeutic approach for obesity treatment. FMT is a relatively straightforward therapy that manipulates the human gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota by transferring healthy donor microbiota into an existing but disturbed microbial ecosystem. However, the relevant scientific work is still in its early stages. In this review, we summarize the cutting-edge research being done into FMT treatment of obesity, current issues in FMT treatment, and the future of FMT and microbial therapeutics.