Your gut microbiome is closely connected with how your body processes nutrients and regulates metabolism.
Gut microorganisms transform components of food into substances that can interact with human cells. These microbial products may affect metabolic processes throughout the body.
How can the gut microbiome influence metabolism?
Gut microorganisms produce and modify many biologically active substances.
Some are involved in fatty-acid metabolism. Gut microorganisms can also produce branched-chain amino acids, which are involved in metabolic regulation.
The microbiome may also interact with signals that regulate hunger and satiety. These include GLP-1, peptide YY and cholecystokinin.
Its influence may extend further. Microbial activity can interact with liver function and communication between the gut and brain.
Why does this matter as we age?
Nutrient sensing describes how cells and tissues detect and respond to available nutrients.
Changes in these pathways are part of biological ageing. Deregulated nutrient sensing is one of the Hallmarks of Aging.
At the same time, the gut microbiome changes throughout life. Diet, physical activity, medications and health can affect both the microbiome and metabolism.
This makes cause and effect difficult to separate. A microbiome change associated with poorer metabolic health does not necessarily cause it.
Researchers are therefore interested not only in which microorganisms are present, but also in what they produce and how these products interact with metabolic pathways.
Understanding these interactions may help explain how the gut microbiome is connected with metabolic health as we age.
