Increasing prevalence of obesity and associated metabolic disorders, such as diabetes and metabolic syndrome, is of global concern. Recent studies have focused on gut microbiota as an environmental factor that contributes to obesity and metabolic syndrome. Experimental studies using germ-free mice suggest that the gut microbiota affects nutrient acquisition and energy regulation in the host. The composition of gut microbiota has also been shown to differ in lean versus obese mice and humans. Furthermore, lipopolysaccharide derived from intestinal Gram-negative bacteria may act as a triggering factor inducing inflammation and systemic insulin resistance. These findings suggest gut microbiota as a target for prevention and treatment of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Indeed, prebiotics and probiotics have been shown to prevent and improve obesity and metabolic syndrome. This review takes a look at recent work concerning relationships between gut microbiota, obesity, and metabolic syndrome.

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Japan has entered an era of an aged society, and the number of patients afflicted with lifestyle-related diseases is continuously increasing. From the point of view of preventive medicine, taking into consideration the current status, the concept of metabolic syndrome has been proposed. Metabolic syndrome involves a combination of several metabolic risk factors such as abdominal obesity and insulin resistance. In this article the definition of this syndrome and its pathogenic mechanisms so far elucidated are explained.

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