Obesity & Your Microbiome
Happy Spring to you! There has been much written in the literature about the Microbiome and its relation to Obesity and associated Cardiometabolic Diseases! Next week, I have the privilege of speaking at the American Academy of Critical Care Nurses San Fernando Valley Conference at the beautiful Odyssey Restaurant in Burbank.
I will be discussing the gut lining and its role in inflammation (my favorite topic)! In today’s newsletter, I wanted to highlight one of the things I will be discussing…..2 specific microbes that have shown great promise in the literature with regards to Obesity and associated Cardiometabolic Diseases, including Diabetes.
2 years ago, I did a similar talk with my friend and colleague, Amanda Williams for the same symposium, and we discussed Obesity and its relation to the FB ratio…….something that we test for on GI Map.
The Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio has been used as a marker for gut microbial composition, with studies suggesting its potential role in obesity, metabolic disorders, and other health conditions.
The theory behind this ratio stems from early research that found an increased proportion of Firmicutes relative to Bacteroidetes in obese individuals, and a lower ratio in lean individuals.
However, recent research has shown that the F/B ratio is no longer considered a reliable or definitive indicator for these conditions, and there are several reasons for this shift in understanding…..
Moving Beyond the F/B Ratio
As research into the microbiome continues to evolve, there is more interest in its diversity, functional capacity, and interactions with the immune system.
The focus has shifted toward assessing specific microbial species (something we do with GI MAP) and theie functional potential rather than relying on simplistic ratios that fail to account for the complexity of gut microbiota. (I never relied on the FB ratio anyway and always looked for specific microbes in our patients!)
Gut bacteria don’t act in isolation; they interact with each other, and your immune system. This interaction is crucial in determining the effects of the microbiome on metabolism and health. That is why we do a full gut microbiome test with GI Mapping!
We love the GI Map, but we also pride ourselves in evolving with the science! Other Microbiome Testing available at iBiome:
TEST DON’T GUESS!
So instead of the FB ratio…..recent literature has a greater focus on the benefits and function of individual Microbes!
There is much published about these 2 microbes & their metabolic benefit!
Faecalibacterium Prausnitzii
Check out this reel I created on Instagram last year about…. Faecalibacterium Prausnitzii, a bacteria that cannot be put in a probiotic because its oxygen sensitive: there is only one way to get it on board and reap its benefits! (iBiome patients know what this is)
This reel was reposted by Diagnostic Solutions, the makers of the GI Map & other Microbiome tests!
Akkermansia Muciniphila . . .
Akkermansia Muciniphila plays a key role in preventing obesity and regulating insulin sensitivity. THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME because Akkermansia does stimulate GLP 1 receptors in the gut lining!
Studies have shown: higher levels of Akkermansia are often found in individuals with a healthy body mass index (BMI) and in those who exhibit better metabolic profiles.
Conversely, individuals with obesity or metabolic syndrome tend to have lower levels of Akkermansia in their gut microbiomes (something we see often in our patients GI Maps)!
Research has demonstrated that Akkermansia can influence fat metabolism. A study published in 2013 in the Nature Medicine journal found that Akkermansia abundance was inversely correlated with fat mass in mice and humans (Cani et al., 2013). These findings suggest that Akkermansia might help regulate adiposity (fat) by influencing energy balance and fat storage.
Akkermansia has been linked to improved insulin sensitivity: A 2020 study highlighted in Cell Metabolism showed that supplementation with Akkermansia could improve glucose tolerance and insulin resistance in mice, making it a potential therapeutic candidate for managing type 2 diabetes (Plovier et al., 2020).
Test-don’t guess!
We test for Akkermansia on GI Map and other tests and have learned so much about this little guy….
Moral of the story about Faecalibacterium Prausnitzii and Akkermansia Muciniphila: they do have an impact on your weight and metabolic health!
iBiome Membership Corner
Rita, If you are unable to get in for an appointment, please message me directly and I will do my best to get you in!
New Service Alert: We have added a phone call option
Feel free to schedule this with me in between your appointment for a 20-30 minute update and touch base in between appointments! We are serious about your support in between appointments.
Fun Stuff:
April: Honored to be speaking at the AACN SFV Annual Conference in April at the Odyssey Restaurant in Burbank!
June: Honored to be speaking at the California Association of Nurse Practitioners’ monthly dinner, hosted by Integrative Therapeutics, one of the most reliable supplement companies that I count on! We will be at North Italia in Torrance! More to follow (for NPs only).
Camp del Corazon Annual Gala Donation
Camp del Corazon is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides year-round experiential opportunities for children faced living with heart disease. They provide a residential summer camp experience (usually on Catalina Island) for children ages 7-17.
These children would not otherwise be able to attend summer camp, CDC is the only one of its kind.
It was founded by dear old friends/colleagues of mine.
I volunteered at the Camp (on Catalina Island) for many years during my time at UCLA!
The kids who attend Camp do not pay any money for their camp stay, and the camp holds an Annual Gala, hosted by Tom Arnold.
We are honored to be donating a consultation for the Gala Auction -this is our 4th year donating to the Camp. Last year our donation included a GI Map!
Check out their auction here, it ends Saturday at 8PM. You can get a new patient consultation for as low as $75.00 and there are many other fun items in the auction open to all!
All proceeds go to the Camp!❤️❤️
Please feel free to reach out with any questions!
Sincerely,
Rita Wadhwani, MSN, RN, ACNP, CNS
iBiome Health & Wellness
WE HAVE ADDED A 5% DISCOUNT ON FULLSCRIPT SUPPLEMENT ACCOUNT FOR ALL NON MEMBER PATIENTS!
Disclaimer: This communication is not intended as medical advice or substitution of health care. Please consult with your individual provider, or schedule an appointment with us before starting any health recommendations.
I invite you to share this newsletter with a friend & invite them to subscribe here!
iBiome Health & Wellness
Telehealth & Concierge
Palos Verdes Peninsula
California
Powered by Squarespace
