Eating Disorders and the Intestinal Microbiota: Mechanisms of Energy Homeostasis and Behavioral Influence

Purpose of Review We reviewed and evaluated recently published scientific studies that explored the role of the intestinal microbiota in eating disorders. Recent Findings Studies have demonstrated that the intestinal microbiota is a contributing factor to both host energy homeostasis and behavior—tw...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current psychiatry reports 2017-08, Vol.19 (8), p.51-51, Article 51
Main Authors: Glenny, Elaine M., Bulik-Sullivan, Emily C., Tang, Quyen, Bulik, Cynthia M., Carroll, Ian M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Eating disorders
Eating Disorders (S Wonderlich and JM Lavender
Feeding and Eating Disorders - microbiology
Feeding and Eating Disorders - psychology
Gastrointestinal Diseases - microbiology
Gastrointestinal Diseases - psychology
Gastrointestinal Microbiome
Homeostasis
Homeostasis - physiology
Humans
Medicin och hälsovetenskap
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Microbiota
Psychiatry
Section Editors
Topical Collection on Eating Disorders
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Summary:Purpose of Review We reviewed and evaluated recently published scientific studies that explored the role of the intestinal microbiota in eating disorders. Recent Findings Studies have demonstrated that the intestinal microbiota is a contributing factor to both host energy homeostasis and behavior—two traits commonly disrupted in patients with eating disorders. To date, intestinal microbiota research in eating disorders has focused solely on anorexia nervosa (AN). Initial studies have reported an atypical intestinal microbial composition in patients with AN compared to healthy controls. However, the impact of these AN-associated microbial communities on host metabolism and behavior remains unknown. Summary The intriguing pattern of findings in patients with AN encourages further investigation of the intestinal microbiota in eating disorders. Elucidating the specific role(s) of these microbial communities may yield novel ideas for augmenting current clinical therapies to promote weight gain, decrease gastrointestinal distress, and even reduce psychological symptomatology.
ISSN:1523-3812
1535-1645
1535-1645
DOI:10.1007/s11920-017-0797-3