Scientists looking to solve the ongoing obesity crisis have made an important discovery: Intermittent calorie restriction leads to significant changes both in the gut and the brain, which may open up new options for maintaining a healthy weight.
Researchers studied 25 volunteers who were obese over 62 days. They followed an intermittent energy restriction program that involved controlling their calorie intake and fasting on some days. The participants lost an average of 7.6 kilograms (16.8 pounds) or 7.8 percent of their body weight, and there was evidence of changes in the activity of obesity-related brain regions and gut bacteria.
The study found shifts in the make-up of gut bacteria and in the activity of certain brain regions involved in appetite and addiction regulation. The changes were highly dynamic and linked over time.
It’s not clear what causes these changes or if the gut is influencing the brain or vice versa, but treating certain brain regions could be a way to control food intake.
The study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans to spot changes in brain activity in areas important for appetite regulation. The changes in gut bacteria were analyzed via stool samples and blood measurements, and were linked to particular brain regions.
For example, the bacteria Coprococcus comes and Eubacterium hallii were associated with lower activity in the left inferior frontal orbital gyrus, an area involved in executive function and willpower when it comes to food intake.
The gut microbiome is thought to communicate with the brain in a complex, two-way process. The microbiome produces neurotransmitters and neurotoxins that access the brain through nerves and blood circulation. In return, the brain controls eating behavior while nutrients from our diet change the composition of the gut microbiome.
Knowing more about how our brains and guts are dependent on each other could make a huge difference in preventing and reducing obesity. The next step is to determine the precise mechanism by which the gut microbiome and brain communicate during weight loss, including what specific gut microbiome and brain regions are critical for successful weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/fasting-style-diet-seems-to-result-in-dynamic-changes-to-human-brains