Endocrine Abstracts

Experimental data in animals, but also observational studies in patients, suggest that dysbiosis, meaning changes in the composition and/or of the metabolic activity of the gut microbiota, occurs upon the development of obesity and related metabolic diseases In this presentation, we will evaluate the rationale to propose prebiotic approach (consisting in the administration of dietary fermentable carbohydrates able to change the gut microbiota composition or function) in the management of metabolic disorders such as steatosis, insulin resistance, and vascular dysfunction. We will show, in view of experimental data in animals, that dietary glucans, arabinoxylans, or fructans can modulate host gene expression and metabolism, by changing gut microbiota composition and function. Even if the increase in Bifidobacteria remains the major and common signature of the prebiotic approach, a complex modulation of the gut microbial ecology occurs upon prebiotic treatment in obese individuals, which extent the panel of interesting microbial targets in the management of obesity-related diseases. The promotion of gut hormones release, changes in the gut barrier integrity, and/or the production of bacterial-derived metabolites could all participate in the improvement of host health by prebiotics. Appropriate human intervention studies are programmed in order to evaluate the interaction between the gut microbiota and ‘non digestible’ food components, which might contribute to adequate nutritional advices in the management of metabolic disorders.

I declare no conflict of interest concerning this presentation.