Folic acid produced by certain types of gut bacteria may have contributed to the weight loss of teenagers with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) who have been fed a high-fiber diet for several months.
In one study, three researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China described the incident as follows:Metagenomic-scale metabolic networks suggest folic acid produced by Bifidobacterium longum May contribute to weight loss from a high fiber diet in children with Prader-Willi syndrome”Published in the journal Microorganisms..
The human gastrointestinal tract is home to billions of bacteria and other microorganisms, collectively referred to as the intestinal flora. The activity of these bacteria can have a significant impact on health. For example, many bacteria make metabolites (small molecules) that affect the activity of the body’s systems.
A person’s health and lifestyle can also affect the intestinal flora. For example, dietary changes can change the types of bacteria that are common in the gut flora. A better understanding of the interrelated ways in which the gut flora regulates health may help in designing better interventions for health conditions such as obesity. A characteristic symptom of PWS is bulimia nervosa (a feeling of insatiable hunger), which makes many patients obese.
Studies show that a 14-year-old boy from PWS was given a high-fiber diet for 105 days, or just over three months. During the diet, the boy’s weight decreased from 140 kg (308 lbs) to 114 kg (251 lbs). The levels of inflammatory markers in his blood also decreased during this time.
At regular intervals during the meal, researchers took samples of boys’ stools and analyzed the intestinal flora. Next, a series of advanced computer-driven analyses were used to identify potential metabolite changes based on bacterial changes in the microbial flora.
“The focus of this study was to screen for functional microbial strains and metabolic pathways that may be important for weight loss during the diet,” the team wrote.
According to the team’s analysis, the diversity of the intestinal flora was generally reduced after the boy started a high-fiber diet. Researchers have noted several types of bacteria whose levels have risen after he started eating. Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum, Faecalibacterium prausnitziiAnd seeds Clostridium..
“These strains did not grow continuously, but fluctuated after the outbreak, which shows a continuous balance among community members,” the scientists write.
The amount of folic acid produced by the gut flora was found to be negatively correlated with body mass index. In other words, the loss of weight in boys was accompanied by an increase in folic acid levels. Folic acid, or folic acid, is a B vitamin used for the growth of new cells. Folic acid derivatives are known to have a wide range of health and illness effects, according to researchers.
The results of the analysis showed that the main source of folic acid produced by the intestinal flora is bacterial species. Bifidobacterium longum..Stocks Bifidobacterium longum Researchers write that it is a “well-established category of multifunctional probiotics.” Probiotics are microorganisms that are thought to maintain and promote a “healthy” gut flora.
“This systematic study suggested that in this child, the weight-loss effect may have been achieved primarily by increasing the secretion of folic acid derivatives … via vitamin and cofactor metabolism. Bifidobacterium longum “Strains,” the researchers concluded.
Decreased levels of metabolites associated with amino acids (protein constituents) were also associated with weight loss in boys.
