Obesity, gut microbiota, and multiple sclerosis: Unraveling the connection

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Obesity is associated with chronic mild-grade systemic inflammation and neuroinflammation. Obesity in early childhood and adolescence is also a significant risk factor for multiple sclerosis (MS) development. However, the underlying mechanisms that explain the link between obesity and MS development are not fully explored. An increasing number of studies call attention to the importance of gut microbiota as a leading environmental risk factor mediating inflammatory central nervous system demyelination, particularly in MS. Obesity and high-calorie diet are also associated with disturbances in gut microbiota. Therefore, gut microbiota alteration is a plausible connection between obesity and the increased risk of MS development. A greater understanding of this connection could provide additional therapeutic opportunities, like dietary interventions, microbiota-derived products, and exogenous antibiotics and probiotics. This review summarizes the current evidence regarding the relationships between MS, obesity, and gut microbiota. We discuss gut microbiota as a potential link between obesity and increased risk for MS. Additional experimental studies and controlled clinical trials targeting gut microbiota are warranted to unravel the possible causal relationship between obesity and increased risk of MS.

Keywords

Gut microbiota, Multiple sclerosis, Neuroinflammation, Obesity

Medical Subject Headings

Child, Preschool; Humans; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Multiple Sclerosis (etiology, complications); Obesity (complications, epidemiology); Microbiota; Risk Factors

Publication Date

8-1-2023

Publication Title

Multiple sclerosis and related disorders

E-ISSN

2211-0356

Volume

76

First Page

104768

PubMed ID

37269641

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1016/j.msard.2023.104768

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS