True cause of obesity

Living in the gut bacteria can induce growth in the demand for food and diabetic disorders in the organism that leads to obesity

Andrew Gevirtz from Emory University and his colleagues studied mice lacking the gene responsible for the production of protein TLR5. The experiments yielded a surprising result: genetically modified mice were 20% heavier and ate about 10% more food than their "normal" cousins. In addition, mice lacking the protein TLR5, distinguished by high blood pressure and high cholesterol. When modified mice restricted in food, they lose weight, but it retained a higher insulin resistance (the cause of diabetes type).

Thus, TLR5-deficient mice showed the entire "set" of symptoms, which in humans leads to obesity, high risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Previous studies have shown that TLR5 protein plays an important role in controlling the bacterial "population" of intestine. This protein helps the cells to recognize flagellin - the main component of flagellates, bodies that bacteria use to move.

"The intestine is inhabited by a complex community of microbes, among which there are" good "and" bad ". We can imagine a protein TLR5, as the sheriff who helps law-abiding residents to deal with troublemakers. Remove TLR5 and safety of the community will be destroyed ", - notes Gevirtz. Further investigation showed that TLR5-deficient mice have a distinctive set of bacteria, which, inter alia, increase the body's ability to absorb calories from food.

It was found that the modified mice could pass on their "people" ordinary brethren, infecting them so prone to obesity.
Bacterial populations in the intestine in humans is believed to be inherited from the mother, and remained relatively stable, but may change under the influence of diet and under the action of antibiotics. A new study showed for the first time that the bacteria may directly affect appetite