The hidden culprits have been found.
A recent study has identified specific gut bacteria that may be associated with compulsive eating behaviors, shedding light on potential links between microbiota composition and food addiction.
Researchers discovered that individuals and mice with a food addiction showed elevated levels of the Proteobacteria family in their gut. Conversely, they found reduced levels of other bacterial types, such as Blautia bacteria and those belonging to the Actinobacteria family.
Elena Martin-Garcia, a professor at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, noted that introducing prebiotics that increase Blautia levels in the gut resulted in decreased food addiction behaviors in mice. This suggests a potential protective effect of Actinobacterial and Bacillota bacteria against the development of food addiction.
The study, which used a food addiction scale to assess both mice and humans, revealed consistent patterns: mice displaying food addiction had higher Proteobacteria levels and lower Actinobacteria and Blautia levels, mirroring findings in a group of 88 human participants.
Martin-Garcia emphasized the significance of these microbiota findings, highlighting the potential beneficial effects of Blautia bacteria in particular. Tests on mice confirmed that increasing Blautia levels corresponded with reduced food addiction behaviors.
Presenting her findings at the Federation of European Neurosciences Societies meeting in Vienna and publishing them in the journal Gut, Martin-Garcia underscored the bidirectional influence between gut bacteria and brain function. She expressed optimism about leveraging this understanding to develop future treatments for food addiction and related eating disorders.
These insights mark a significant step forward in unraveling the complex interplay between gut microbiota and behavioral disorders, potentially paving the way for innovative therapeutic approaches in the future.
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