Obesity and being overweight have reached incredible proportions worldwide and are one of the most common human health problems. The causes of obesity are multifactorial, including a complex interplay among genes, metabolism, diet, physical activity, and the environment. The intestinal microbiota has the ability to affect the host physiology for both benefit and damage, either directly or through microbial metabolites. The aim of this review is to discuss the mechanisms by which the intestinal microbiota could act as a key modifier of obesity and related metabolic abnormalities. The synbiotic components provide an optimal target for modulation of the intestinal microbiota and help reshape the metabolic profile in obese people. The development of novel functional foods containing synbiotic ingredients may present a support in the prevention of obesity as one of the risk factors for chronic diseases. Knowledge of the synbiotic mechanisms of action and the use of new functional foods supplemented with probiotics and prebiotics will facilitate the clinical application and development of individual health care strategies.
Keywords: gut microbiota; metabolic syndrome; obesity; synbiotics; type 2 diabetes mellitus.