In the global battle against obesity a groundbreaking discovery offers new hope: intermittent calorie restriction (IER) not only helps shed pounds but also triggers significant changes in both the brain and gut. This revelation could pave the way for innovative strategies to maintain a healthy weight and tackle obesity more effectively.
Researchers from China embarked on a 62-day study involving 25 obese volunteers who adhered to an IER program, which alternated between controlled calorie intake and fasting periods. The results were impressive: participants lost an average of 7.6 kilograms (16.8 pounds), or 7.8 percent of their body weight. But the benefits didn’t stop there. The study also revealed dynamic shifts in the brain’s activity and the composition of gut bacteria, suggesting a profound connection between the gut microbiome and the brain.
“Here we show that an IER diet changes the human brain-gut-microbiome axis,” said Qiang Zeng, a health researcher at the Second Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases in China. “The observed changes in the gut microbiome and in the activity in addiction-related brain regions during and after weight loss are highly dynamic and coupled over time.”
Brain-Gut Connection
The study’s findings highlight the intricate relationship between the gut and the brain, particularly in regions of the brain involved in appetite regulation and addiction, such as the inferior frontal orbital gyrus. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans detected changes in brain activity, while stool samples and blood tests indicated corresponding alterations in the gut microbiome.
For instance, two specific types of gut bacteria, Coprococcus comes and Eubacterium hallii, were found to be negatively associated with activity in the left inferior frontal orbital gyrus—an area of the brain linked to executive functions like willpower over food intake.
“The gut microbiome is thought to communicate with the brain in a complex, two-directional way,” explained Xiaoning Wang, a medical scientist at the State Clinic Center for Geriatrics in China. “The microbiome produces neurotransmitters and neurotoxins which access the brain through nerves and the blood circulation. In return, the brain controls eating behavior, while nutrients from our diet change the composition of the gut microbiome.”
With over a billion people worldwide struggling with obesity, this research offers crucial insights into the brain-gut relationship and its potential role in weight management. By understanding how these two systems interact, scientists could develop more targeted treatments to prevent and reduce obesity.
“The next question to be answered is the precise mechanism by which the gut microbiome and the brain communicate in obese people, including during weight loss,” said Liming Wang, a biomedical scientist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. “What specific gut microbiome and brain regions are critical for successful weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight?”
Conclusion
As scientists continue to explore the brain-gut connection, this study marks a significant step forward in understanding how intermittent calorie restriction can influence weight loss and overall health. The research, published in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, underscores the potential of harnessing this connection to combat the global obesity crisis, offering hope for more effective and personalized weight management strategies in the future.
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