So are you an R, a B or a P-type microbiome?

Henrik Munch Roager and his colleagues conducted a study on 85 Danish people to find out what is affecting our weight.

Stool energy density is positively correlated to intestinal transit time and related to microbial enterotypes

Microbiome  10, Article number: 223 (2022)

The researchers studied a group of overweight adults and found that the type of bacteria present in their gut, as well as the speed at which food travels through their intestines, can impact how much energy their body extracts from food.

Surprisingly, they found that slower intestinal transit time was actually associated with higher energy extraction. The researchers also found that individuals with a certain type of gut bacteria (Ruminococcaceae enterotype) had lower energy extraction and lower body weight compared to those with another type of gut bacteria (Bacteroides enterotype).

It turns out that the TYPE of bacteria living in your intestines, also known as your enterotype, plays a role in how much energy your body extracts from the food you eat.

B types: People with a Bacteroides enterotype had:

• lower stool energy density (a measure of how much energy your body gets from the food in your poop)
• shorter intestinal transit times
• less diverse gutmicrobiome compared to those with a … R types: Ruminococcaceae enterotype

P type: The Prevotella enterotype fell somewhere in between.

And get this – the R-types had lower body weight than the B-types.

My Thoughts On This Study:

This study shows clearly that certain gut microbiomes may be more efficient at extracting energy from food and potentially aiding in weight gain! Fascinating stuff! This research could help pave the way for personalized nutrition plans and weight loss/gain strategies.