Researchers have conducted the first study to conclusively demonstrate that microbes can promote the absorption of dietary fats in the intestine and their subsequent metabolism in the body.
The study was conducted using optically transparent zebrafish, which were fed fatty acids tagged with fluorescent dye enabling researchers to directly observe the absorption and transport of fats.
One group of bacteria, Firmicutes, were specifically identified as instrumental in increasing fat absorption.
Understanding how specific gut bacteria stimulate absorption of dietary fat may lead to the development of new ways to reduce fat absorption in the context of obesity and associated metabolic diseases, and to enhance fat absorption in the context of malnutrition.
Read more at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill