Each human being has on average 1 to 2 kg of bacteria, distributed in different places of the body. Some of them have taken up residence in our intestine and they take part in digestion, for example by breaking down complex sugars (fibers) that humans could not digest otherwise, or by taking part in fermentation. They also protect us against infectious agents.
In summary, the healthier our microbiota, the better off we are. Recent studies have also shown that an imbalance of the intestinal flora increased the risk of type 1 diabetes or of obesity-related diseases.
By studying the connection between the brain and the intestine, researchers from the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina (USA) have just discovered that the imbalance of the intestinal microbiota would also have an impact on anorexia .
“It’s a vicious circle: the severe limitation of nutritional intake in people who suffer from anorexia could change the composition of the intestinal flora. This change could contribute to the anxiety, depression and weight loss that are symptoms of anorexia,” says Dr. Ian Caroll, professor at the Center for Biology of Gastrointestinal Diseases and lead author of this study.
Fewer and less varied bacteria
For this study, the doctor and his team collected faecal samples from 16 women hospitalized for anorexia nervosa and compared them to samples from 12 randomly selected patients. They found that people with anorexia had far fewer and far less varied bacteria in their gut.
The question now remains whether improving microbial diversity could help alleviate symptoms related to eating disorders. To find out, Dr. Ian Carroll received a $2.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Mental Health, which enabled him to form a team of researchers.
Read also :
Infographic: the signs of anorexia
Anorexia: we can get out of it