The microbiome and metabolic syndrome: is this achicken-or-egg problem?

Abstract

The microbiome has become recognized as acritical player in the understanding of human physiology and pathophysiology, especially with regard to the metabolic syndrome. While recent findings emphasize the impact of the microbiome on metabolic health, new questions simultaneously arise: Is there adysbiotic microbiome before the onset of metabolic disorders or is dysbiosis caused by aderanged metabolism? Furthermore, are there opportunities to employ the microbiome as atool for novel treatment strategies in patients with metabolic syndrome? The intention of this review article is to describe the fashionable term "microbiome" beyond its current research approaches, which will be relevant to the practicing internist.