The Four ‘Metabolic’ Flora (Gut Microbiome)

Oscillospira

In twenty obese men, the Mediterranean diet increased oscillospira and improved insulin sensitivity—a marker of good metabolic health. Chopped almonds increased this helpful microbe in eighteen human volunteers during a randomised control trial. Exposure to furry house pets also increases oscillospira in infants.

Coriobacteriaceae

Coriobacteriaceae may mean the difference between being healthy and overweight, and being unhealthy and overweight. A human trial showed a higher amount of this gut bug in metabolically healthy, but overweight, people. Being metabolically healthy may make all the difference when attempting a fat-loss diet and fending off obesity related conditions. Coriobacteriaceae also has an important role in blood sugar balance and breaking down fat. Running a half marathon hugely increased the amount of this positive gut flora in human subjects immediately after the event. It’s fair to say that exercise is important. You don’t need to run twelve miles to improve your gut health.

Akkermansia Muciniphilia

Researchers consistently see this helpful bacterium in slim people and believe it to be protective of fat gain. Intermittent fasting and being in ketosis allow it to flourish by eating the gut lining mucus. This stimulates production, which keeps the bowel environment healthy. Supplementing akkermansia decreased the body weight of human subjects, improved liver function and lowered inflammation. The prebiotic fructooligosaccharides (FOS) found in garlic, onions, chicory, leeks and loads of other plants feeds this helpful gut bug, allowing it to proliferate. The polyphenols in Concord grapes and cranberries also gave a leg-up to this symbiotic microbe. Interestingly, Metformin, a drug taken to correct metabolic dysfunction—the mechanisms of which are not fully understood—increases akkermansia. Could this be one of the drug's hidden actions?

Christensenella Minuta

Scientists discovered this gut flora in 2012. It’s much higher in slim people than in the obese and the more you have, the more likely you are to be slim. It’s strongly correlated to healthy levels of triglycerides and HDL (the so-called good cholesterol). In other words, it’s cardioprotective. Researchers report people with metabolic syndrome—a cluster of conditions that increase your likelihood of cardiovascular and related diseases—are depleted in this gut flora. The healthy microbe proliferates by fermenting protein and fibre, which is a reason to consume enough of both. Legumes seem to provide a flawless food for fermentation as galactooligosaccharides, another prebiotic. Resveratrol from the skin of grapes also seems to give the microbes a boost. A French biotech company is busy trying to turn this gut flora into a drug for, you guessed it, metabolic dysfunction.

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