Flore intestinale et maladies métaboliques

A recent growing number of evidences show that the increased prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes cannot be solely attributed to changes in the human genome, nutritional habits, or reduction of physical activity in our daily lives. It is now demonstrated that gut microflora play an even more important role in maintaining human health. The present review discusses molecular hypotheses through which gut microbiota affects host nutritional metabolism. It highlights that mechanisms, involving energy harvesting and inflammation, impact on energy storage and immunomodulation and hence regulate the development of obesity and insulin resistance. The role of the relationship between the intestinal immune system and intestinal microflora is described with regards to its role on the regulation of inflammation. Nowadays, gut microbiota is considered as a “microbial organ” localized within the host. Therefore, specific strategies aiming to regulate gut microbiota could be useful as a mean to reduce the impact of high-fat feeding on the occurrence of metabolic diseases.