Diet, Gut Microbiota, and Obesity: Links with Host Genetics and Epigenetics and Potential Applications
Open accessAbstract
Diverse evidence suggests that the gut microbiota is involved in the development of obesity and associated comorbidities. It has been reported that the composition of the gut microbiota differs in obese and lean subjects, suggesting that microbiota dysbiosis can contribute to changes in body weight. However, the mechanisms by which the gut microbiota participates in energy homeostasis are unclear. Gut microbiota can be modulated positively or negatively by different lifestyle and dietary factors. Interestingly, complex interactions between genetic background, gut microbiota, and diet have also been reported concerning the risk of developing obesity and metabolic syndrome features. Moreover, microbial metabolites can induce epigenetic modifications (i.e., changes in DNA methylation and micro-RNA expression), with potential implications for health status and susceptibility to obesity. Also, microbial products, such as short-chain fatty acids or membrane proteins, may affect host metabolism by regulating appetite, lipogenesis, gluconeogenesis, inflammation, and other functions. Metabolomic approaches are being used to identify new postbiotics with biological activity in the host, allowing discovery of new targets and tools for incorporation into personalized therapies. This review summarizes the current understanding of the relations between the human gut microbiota and the onset and development of obesity. These scientific insights are paving the way to understanding the complex relation between obesity and microbiota. Among novel approaches, prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, and fecal microbiome transplantation could be useful to restore gut dysbiosis.
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Fiber-rich, plant-based diets support microbial diversity and encourage the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which enhance gut barrier function and modulate immune responses.
“Fiber-rich, plant-based diets support microbial diversity and encourage the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which enhance gut barrier function and modulate immune responses.”
From The Power of Environment: A Comprehensive Review of the Exposome's Role in Healthy Aging, Longevity, and Preventive Medicine-Lessons from Blue Zones and Cilento (2025) · cites this paper as [100]
Diet is a primary factor shaping microbiome composition, with direct implications for health and longevity.
“Diet is a primary factor shaping microbiome composition, with direct implications for health and longevity.”
From The Power of Environment: A Comprehensive Review of the Exposome's Role in Healthy Aging, Longevity, and Preventive Medicine-Lessons from Blue Zones and Cilento (2025) · cites this paper as [100]
Fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, and kimchi introduce beneficial microbes, further promoting gut health.
“Fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, and kimchi introduce beneficial microbes, further promoting gut health.”
From The Power of Environment: A Comprehensive Review of the Exposome's Role in Healthy Aging, Longevity, and Preventive Medicine-Lessons from Blue Zones and Cilento (2025) · cites this paper as [100]
Western-style diets high in processed foods, refined sugars, and unhealthy fats foster dysbiosis, increasing inflammation and metabolic dysfunction.
“Conversely, Western-style diets high in processed foods, refined sugars, and unhealthy fats foster dysbiosis, increasing inflammation and metabolic dysfunction [100].”
From The Power of Environment: A Comprehensive Review of the Exposome's Role in Healthy Aging, Longevity, and Preventive Medicine-Lessons from Blue Zones and Cilento (2025) · cites this paper as [100]
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Cuevas-Sierra, A., Ramos-Lopez, O., Riezu-Boj, J. I., Milagro, F. I., & Martinez, J. A.
- Affiliations
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ES)
- Corresponding author
- Martinez, J Alfredo
- Venue
- Advances in Nutrition
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2019-01
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- suppl_1
- Pages
- S17-S30
- ISSN
- 2156-5376 (ISSN-L)
- 2161-8313
- PMC
- PMC6363528
- OpenAlex
- W2919964671
- Cited by
- 523
- References
- 33
- Citations by year
- 2026: 50 · 2025: 94 · 2024: 108 · 2023: 88 · 2022: 84 · 2021: 51 · 2020: 25 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 2
- FWCI
- 8.72
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Advances in Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Johns Hopkins University
- Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología
- National Institutes of Health
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
- Pan American Health Organization
- International Union of Nutritional Sciences
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Nutrition, Genetics, and Disease
- Keywords
- gut microbiota, obesity, diet, dysbiosis, host genetics, epigenetics, DNA methylation, microRNA, short-chain fatty acids, energy homeostasis, metabolic syndrome, postbiotics, prebiotics, probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, personalized treatment, metabolomics
- MeSH terms
- Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Fecal Microbiota Transplantation, Animals, Diet, Energy Metabolism, Fatty Acids, Volatile, Humans, Membrane Proteins, Obesity, DNA Methylation, Probiotics, MicroRNAs, Epigenesis, Genetic, Prebiotics, Precision Medicine, Dysbiosis
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