AUTHOR=Zhou Jing , Wu Xiaoling , Xiang Tianyuan , Liu Fei , Gao Hui , Tong Li , Yan Bin , Li Zhonglin , Zhang Chi , Wang Linyuan , Ou Lei , Li Zhongxia , Wang Wen , Yang Tingting , Li Fengyun , Ma Huimin , Zhao Xiaojuan , Mi Na , Yu Ziya , Lan Canhui , Wang Qi , Li Hao , Wang Liming , Wang Xiaoning , Li Yongli , Zeng Qiang TITLE=Dynamical alterations of brain function and gut microbiome in weight loss JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology VOLUME=13 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2023.1269548 DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2023.1269548 ISSN=2235-2988 ABSTRACT=Objective

Intermittent energy restriction (IER) is an effective weight loss strategy. However, little is known about the dynamic effects of IER on the brain-gut-microbiome axis.

Methods

In this study, a total of 25 obese individuals successfully lost weight after a 2-month IER intervention. FMRI was used to determine the activity of brain regions. Metagenomic sequencing was performed to identify differentially abundant gut microbes and pathways in from fecal samples.

Results

Our results showed that IER longitudinally reduced the activity of obese-related brain regions at different timepoints, including the inferior frontal orbital gyrus in the cognitive control circuit, the putamen in the emotion and learning circuit, and the anterior cingulate cortex in the sensory circuit. IER longitudinally reduced E. coli abundance across multiple timepoints while elevating the abundance of obesity-related Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Parabacteroides distasonis, and Bacterokles uniformis. Correlation analysis revealed longitudinally correlations between gut bacteria abundance alterations and brain activity changes.

Conclusions

There was dynamical alteration of BGM axis (the communication of E. coli with specific brain regions) during the weight loss under the IER.