https://openj.edwiserinternational.com/index.php/ijbi/issue/feed 2024-09-16T15:05:32+00:00 Dr. MA Jahangir editor.ijpp@edwiserperiodicals.com Open Journal Systems <p>International Journal of Biomedical Investigation is an open access peer reviewed journal. It is permanently archived in<a href="https://www.portico.org/publishers/edwiser/"> Portico</a> (United Kingdom) (through 2021).</p> <p><strong>eISSN: 2581-4745 [<a href="https://portal.issn.org/resource/ISSN/2581-4745">Link to ISSN</a>]<br /></strong></p> https://openj.edwiserinternational.com/index.php/ijbi/article/view/143 2024-09-16T15:01:01+00:00 Sripathi Sowmya Priya, Perumalla Keerthi Sudha and Pusthela Arun Raj* editor.ijpp@edwiserinternational.com

<p><em>This review explores the intricate relationship between obesity and gut microbiota during infancy, a critical period of microbial colonization and metabolic programming. The burgeoning rates of childhood obesity underscore the importance of understanding early-life factors, including the gut microbiota, in shaping long-term health outcomes. Recent studies have illuminated the bidirectional interactions between gut microbiota composition and obesity risk. Early microbial colonization, influenced by mode of delivery, diet, and environmental factors, plays a pivotal role in establishing a diverse and resilient gut microbiota. Perturbations in this delicate ecosystem during infancy, such as antibiotic exposure or formula feeding, have been linked to dysbiosis, characterized by altered microbial diversity and composition, potentially predisposing infants to metabolic disorders later in life. Furthermore, specific microbial taxa, such as Bacteroides and Firmicutes, have been implicated in energy harvest and adiposity regulation through mechanisms involving short-chain fatty acids, bile acids, and gut barrier integrity. These microbial metabolites influence host energy metabolism, inflammation, and appetite regulation, thereby contributing to obesity susceptibility from early childhood onwards. Understanding these complex interactions offers promising avenues for early intervention strategies aimed at modulating gut microbiota composition to mitigate obesity risk. Probiotics, prebiotics, and dietary interventions hold potential as therapeutic targets to promote a balanced gut microbiota and optimize metabolic health in infancy. In conclusion, this review synthesizes current knowledge on the reciprocal relationship between obesity and gut microbiota during infancy, emphasizing the critical role of early-life microbial colonization in shaping metabolic health trajectories. Further research is needed to elucidate causal relationships and develop targeted interventions that harness the gut microbiota as a tool for obesity prevention in early childhood.</em></p>

2024-09-16T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2024 Sripathi Sowmya Priya, Perumalla Keerthi Sudha and Pusthela Arun Raj*