Obesity and type 2 diabetes are closely related, however the mechanisms and critical metabolites in this connection are still unknown. Dr. Belda and an international group of French, German, Swedish, Danish, British and Belgian scientists studied the influence of biotin on host metabolic state, microbiome and inflammation. The study showed that gut bacterial biotin production which correlate with host metabolic and inflammatory states, were deficient in severe obesity. The scientists also discovered inadequate circulating biotin levels in people with extreme obesity.
The suppression of the gut microbiota in mice by antibiotics proved that the gut microbes were responsible for the host's biotin levels. In both people and mice, bariatric surgery, which reduces inflammation and metabolism, is associated with higher levels of bacterial biotin producers and biotin concentrations in the body. Finally, providing biotin to mice on a high-fat diet improved the variety of the microbiome and the potential for bacterial synthesis of biotin and B vitamins while preventing weight gain and glycaemic decline. The study concluded that biotin and prebiotic supplementation strategies may protect extreme obese people from metabolic decline.
Belda E, Voland L, Tremaroli V, Falony G, Adriouch S, Assmann KE, Prifti E, Aron-Wisnewsky J, Debédat J, Le Roy T, Nielsen T, Amouyal C, André S, Andreelli F, Blüher M, Chakaroun R, Chilloux J, Coelho LP, Dao MC, Das P, Fellahi S, Forslund S, Galleron N, Hansen TH, Holmes B, Ji B, Krogh Pedersen H, Le P, Le Chatelier E, Lewinter C, Mannerås-Holm L, Marquet F, Myridakis A, Pelloux V, Pons N, Quinquis B, Rouault C, Roume H, Salem JE, Sokolovska N, Søndertoft NB, Touch S, Vieira-Silva S; MetaCardis Consortium, Galan P, Holst J, Gøtze JP, Køber L, Vestergaard H, Hansen T, Hercberg S, Oppert JM, Nielsen J, Letunic I, Dumas ME, Stumvoll M, Pedersen OB, Bork P, Ehrlich SD, Zucker JD, Bäckhed F, Raes J, Clément K. Impairment of gut microbial biotin metabolism and host biotin status in severe obesity: effect of biotin and prebiotic supplementation on improved metabolism. Gut. 2022 Jan 11:gutjnl-2021-325753. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2021-325753. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35017197.
