Obesity is epidemic in the United States, and it is
increasingly a problem in much of the developed world. The health care costs
associated with obesity and obesity-related diseases are a significant and
increasing fraction of total healthcare spending.
Currently, the most effective means to reverse obesity is
surgical intervention: gastric bypass or gastric binding. Both of these
procedures are invasive, expensive, and present significant risks to the
patient. There is a need then, for a simpler, non-invasive means to inhibit,
reverse, or even prevent altogether the development of obesity.
Researchers at the Biodesign Institute of Arizona State
University have discovered methods to decrease the energy (caloric) uptake of
obese humans by changing the microbial communities in their intestine. By
decreasing absorption of acetate—which is converted to fat—from food digestion,
energy uptake can be reduced and obesity diminished.
The researchers discovered that removal of H2 by methanogens
leads to increased production of acetate. Therefore, ways to scavenge acetate,
include using probiotics such as acetate oxidizing bacteria or acetoclastic
methanogens, and enhancing the growth of acetate-scavenging microbiota are
desirable. Similarly, a microbial electrolysis cell comprising of an acetogenic
bacterium and/or acetoclastic methanogen can be implanted in the gut to control
the microbial population. These methods avoid surgical risks, reduce nutritional
impact, and are reversible in the case that side effects are encountered.
Potential Applications
Benefits and Advantages
- Fewer adverse health effects
- Non-invasive treatment
- Relatively low cost
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For more information about the inventor(s) and their
research, please see
Dr.
Rittmann's directory webpage
Dr. Krajmalnik-Brown's directory webpage
