Pharmacological methods for weight reduction and their connection with the human gut microbiota

Abstract

In the beginning of the twenty-first century, obesity has become a concerning world-wide issue due to its high prevalence in modern society. It is a metabolic disorder, caused by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue in the human organism – the main reason for which is increased caloric intake and decreased caloric expenditure in combination with dysregulation of hunger. It is a chronic systematic disease that leads to the development of a large number of health complications, the most common of which are: diabetes mellitus type 2, arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, sleep apnea, different types of cancer and more. During the last decade, significant advancements have been made in regard to treatment of many endocrine and metabolic conditions, using pharmacological means, and some of these novel medications have proven to be an effective therapy for obesity. There is emerging evidence that such drugs can exhibit an effect over the human gut microbiota – the complex system of commensal bacteria located in the gastrointestinal tract, which could affect appetite, mucosal integrity, nutrient absorption, and that interaction can be the key to understanding the pathogenesis of obesity and its treatment.