The function of intestinal flora extends to stress, sleep, and the circulatory system. In particular, research on obesity is also progressing. Dr. Gordon is researching intestinal flora at the University of Washington. Gordon’s research team obtained intestinal flora from “obese people” and “thin people”. The intestinal flora of “obese people” and “thin people” was transplanted into germ-free mice. The obese and thin group mice were raised with the same food and exercise for about one month and observed over time. As a result, there was no particular change in the group of mice that received the thin flora. On the other hand, the group of mice with the obese flora gained a lot of fat and became fat.
Obesity occurs when cells called fat cells store fat particles inside and become enlarged. If fat cells are left alone, they continue to take in nutrients from the blood and become enlarged. Short-chain fatty acids are absorbed from the intestines along with other nutrients, enter the bloodstream, and are transported throughout the body. These short-chain fatty acids enter the bloodstream, are transported throughout the body, and reach fat cells. Interestingly, when fat cell sensors detect short-chain fatty acids, the cells stop taking in nutrients. As a result, obesity is suppressed. Also, when the sympathetic nervous system detects short-chain fatty acids, the metabolism of the entire body becomes active. When the sympathetic nervous system detects short-chain fatty acids, the heart rate increases and body temperature rises. By increasing the heart rate and body temperature, excess nutrients are burned and consumed. These short-chain fatty acids play an important role in suppressing obesity.
Intestinal bacteria live in the stomach at a rate of 1 to 2 kilograms and multiply every day. Short-chain fatty acids are produced by intestinal bacteria such as Bacteroides breaking down food. It has been found that the number of several types of bacteria belonging to the Bacteroides group is extremely low in the obese flora. When the number of Bacteroides bacteria decreases, the obese flora becomes dominant. In recent years, obesity cures such as “Ugobi” have been attracting attention. This drug seems to be quite expensive. The Gordon group conducted an experiment on 12 obese people, in which they administered a diet for one year. As a result, they confirmed that people who want to lose weight can change their obese flora to slim flora by eating a lot of inexpensive vegetables.
