Obesity And Metabolic Syndrome Linked To Gut Bacteria

From University of Maryland Medical Center News Releases, "University Of Maryland Researchers Identify Gut Bacteria Associated With Obesity And Metabolic Syndrome: Additional Research To Study Impact Of Medicine, Diet And Lifestyle Changes:"

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have identified 26 species of bacteria in the human gut microbiota that appear to be linked to obesity and related metabolic complications. These include insulin resistance, high blood sugar levels, increased blood pressure and high cholesterol, known collectively as "the metabolic syndrome," which significantly increases an individual’s risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke.