Intestinal microbiota and its relationship with diabetes and obesity

The number of people who are obese and who suffer from type 2 diabetes is one of the most prominent health problems of our time. Among commonly known reasons we may distinguish excess of food in relation to how much food energy our organism really needs (change in life style and diet), genetic predisposition, endocrine disorders, and use of medicines. However, according to latest reports, intestinal flora plays a significant part in aetiology of these medical conditions. The fact that intestinal microflora may affect body weight, sensitivity to insulin, metabolism of sugars and lipids leads to a conclusion that any change within intestinal microflora may be the reason for pathogenesis of obesity and diabetes. Moreover, any attempt to modify it may cause decrease or limitation of the intensity of the medical conditions mentioned above. Intestinal microbiota is now one of the most developing subjects for research. Many of the world’s medical projects including MetaHIT (UE and China), MicrOBES (France), Human Microbiome Project — HMP (USA) focus on research on the role of intestinal bacteria for people’s health. Scientists are particularity interested in the possibility of modification of the intestinal microorganisms in order to treat or prevent many conditions including obesity and other diseases of affluence.