The Gut Microbiome and Its Connection to Fat Distribution
The term “epidemic” should be familiar to everyone by now, especially after 2020. But it’s not just viruses that pose a threat to us; our lifestyle does as well. Overweight, diabetes, elevated blood lipids, and high blood pressure—collectively known as “metabolic syndrome”—are no longer isolated cases. Many scientific articles warn of the “epidemic of affluence,” as its effects are extremely harmful to the heart, blood vessels, and other systems, potentially leading to heart attacks or strokes over time.
But what is the connection to the gut microbiome?
Let us explain it to you in more detail:
A very important conclusion was drawn from a study in which the gut microbiome from obese organisms was transplanted into germ-free and healthy organisms. As a result, the previously normal-weight organisms also became overweight. This established a direct link between the microbiome and overweight!
Now, the issue isn’t just the few extra kilos around the hips, but rather the fat distribution that is the decisive factor. Especially dangerous is the visceral fat located inside the abdominal cavity. This brings us to the difference between men and women. The difference in fat distribution between the sexes can be schematically represented by the simple shapes of an apple and a pear.
The apple represents the centrally located, round-shaped fat mass in men, known as “android” fat distribution, while the pear depicts the curvy lines and fat mainly located around the hips and buttocks, which is more common in women and called “gynoid” fat distribution. This does not exclude men with pear shapes or women with apple-like figures, and intermediate forms are also possible, but the terms describe general tendencies.
To sum it up: there are gynoid and android fat distributions, which can occur in both sexes. Android fat distribution, focused in the abdominal area, carries a higher risk because it is metabolically active tissue with many signaling molecules. Note, we are not talking about the small fat deposits that even healthy people can have, but actual overweight!
A 2019 study measured fat distribution in men and women in detail and analyzed their gut microbiomes through genetic analysis. The clear result was that the larger and more diverse the gut microbiome, the less android fat distribution was present. So, long live the diversity of the microbiome!
This is closely linked to sex hormones. For example, in children before puberty, when sex-specific hormones are not yet active in large amounts, there is no such separation in microbiome composition. Exactly how sex hormones affect gut bacteria is not yet fully understood but is of great interest to research because:
The finding that gut microbiome composition affects fat distribution provides an excellent foundation for developing analysis methods for at-risk patients and treatment options for people with metabolic and cardiovascular risk potential in the future.
Until then, it’s up to us to stay fit and work on our microbiome diversity :)
