Bariatric surgery, a type of weight loss surgery, can help people lose weight and improve their metabolic health by reducing their appetite.
But scientists didn’t fully understand how it worked until now.
A new study by researchers from the University of Nottingham and elsewhere has found that bariatric surgery changes the levels of bile acids linked to appetite, metabolism, and inflammation.
Bile acids are made by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. They help digest food and absorb fat and fat-soluble vitamins. Bile acids can also affect appetite by signaling to the brain when you’re full.
Some bile acids are associated with poor metabolic health, which can lead to liver disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.
The study measured bile acid levels in patients who had undergone bariatric surgery in Amsterdam, as well as in two population studies in the UK.
The researchers found that a specific bile acid called isoursodeoxycholate (isoUDCA), which is associated with higher appetite and worse metabolic levels, decreased after bariatric surgery and after taking fiber supplements.
Levels of isoUDCA did not decrease after consuming omega-3 supplements.
This suggests that bariatric surgery and fiber supplements can mimic each other’s effects on bile acid levels and appetite.
Fiber supplements, such as psyllium husk, can help reduce hunger and promote satiety by slowing down the absorption of carbohydrates in the gut.
The study shows that fiber supplements could be a non-invasive alternative to bariatric surgery for people who want to lose weight and improve their metabolic health.
The study also found that gut microbes play a significant role in determining bile acid levels and their effects on appetite and metabolism.
Bariatric surgery and fiber supplements can modify gut microbes in a way that favors weight loss and better metabolic health.
This confirms the importance of the gut microbiome in regulating metabolism and appetite.
The findings of the study could lead to new treatments for obesity and metabolic syndrome that target the gut microbiome and bile acids.
By understanding the complex interactions between genetics, diet, and gut microbes, scientists may be able to develop personalized interventions that can reduce obesity and its associated health risks.
This study highlights the key role that fiber plays in appetite regulation and metabolism, harnessed by specific gut microbes.
Advanced gut microbiome testing (as used by ZOE) provides personalized insights that can support metabolic health.
The gut microbiome and its chemical products such as these bile acids hold huge promise for reducing obesity without the need for invasive surgery.
In summary, the study shows that bariatric surgery and fiber supplements can alter bile acid levels associated with appetite and metabolism, which can lead to weight loss and improved metabolic health.
The study also highlights the role of gut microbes in regulating bile acid levels and their effects on health.
The findings could lead to new treatments for obesity and metabolic syndrome that target the gut microbiome and bile acids.
If you care about weight loss, please read studies about why exercise is less helpful in losing weight than simply eating less, and early time-restricted eating could help lose weight.
For more information about weight loss, please see recent studies that hop extract could reduce belly fat in overweight people, and weight loss drugs may help stop COVID-19.
The study was conducted by Professor Tim Spector et al and published in Cell Reports Medicine.
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