Gut bacteria can contribute to overweight. The bacterial species Bacteroïdes plays an important role in the large intestine, and its numbers increase when people eat a lot. Because Bacteroïdes produces many fatty acids such as butyric acid, it contributes to additional fat storage and weight gain. Some people have more Bacteroïdes in their gut than others. This may partly explain why some people gain weight quickly while others stay slim and can eat as much as they want.
How do you know whether you have a lot of Bacteroïdes in your gut?
In April 2011, the research results were published in the scientific journal Nature. There is great worldwide interest in the gut flora, which in fact forms an organ that has not yet been fully explored.
Worldwide, just three bacterial species make up 80% of the flora of the large intestine: Bacteroïdes, Prevotella and Ruminococcus species. It appears that – despite the enormous variation between individuals – only one of these three bacterial groups is always dominant and therefore occurs in the highest numbers.
The dominant bacterium is surrounded by a fixed cluster of bacteria that work very closely together; this is called an enterotype:
- Enterotype 1, the Bacteroïdes cluster, is seen more often in people who are overweight.
- Enterotype 2, Prevotella dominance, occurs more often in intestinal diseases.
- Enterotype 3, Ruminococcus, occurs most often. The cluster contains Akkermansia; high numbers correspond with low body weight.
By determining the numbers of these three groups, it can be established which enterotype you have.
Enterotype 1
Enterotype 1 in particular is receiving attention because these bacteria play a role in overweight and type 2 diabetes. The production of methane gas in the intestine increases with this type, which can cause flatulence, cramps and constipation.
Hospitals have experimentally carried out stool transplants, in which a person who is overweight receives stool from a slim person. The long-term results still need to be evaluated. If you are overweight or have chronic gastrointestinal complaints, it can be useful to have your enterotype determined. Darmklachten.nl offers these analyses.
