Scientists from the University of Colorado have found that losing weight can improve the condition of gut bacteria that affect the activity of human genes, including those responsible for a healthy metabolism. The research was published in the journal nutrients.
There are several indicators of the state of the microbiome. One of these is called alpha diversity and reflects the number of different types of microbes. The scientists explained that, although this is not always true, a more diverse gut microbiome is often associated with better health and leanness.
In a new study, biologists found that all indicators of gut microbiome diversity increased during the first three months of weight loss. At the same time, the method of losing weight did not matter: counting calories and intermittent fasting were equally useful. In the first group, the participants were instructed to eat about 30% less each day than they needed to maintain their weight. In the intermittent fasting group, people fasted three times a week and ate about 25% of the norm. They ate as usual for the rest of the day.
The researchers also found that altering the gut microbiome affects blood cell DNA methylation. The authors explained that DNA methylation is a dynamic process for the addition and removal of methyl groups. This allows you to regulate the work of genes without directly modifying the DNA. The scientists noted that changing the diversity of the microbiome during weight loss affects the activity of genes responsible for a healthy human metabolism.
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