Gut microbiota and lipids: impact on human health

The human intestine harbours a complex and diverse bacterial community called the gut microbiota. This microbiota, stable during the lifetime, is specific of each individual despite the existence of a phylogenetic core shared by the majority of adults. The influence of the gut microbiota on host's physiology has been largely studied using germfree animals and recently it has been proposed that the gut microbiota affects nutrient acquisition, energy regulation and fat storage. Indeed, germfree animals are resistant to diet induced obesity and display low levels of blood and liver lipids. In humans, several grams of lipids reach the colon each day. These lipids have an impact on the gut microbiota composition characterized by an increase of the Firmicutes/Bacteroides ratio. Concurrently, the gut microbiota is able to convert lipids, including fatty acids or cholesterol, leading to the production of metabolites with potential health effects.