A study by Weill Cornell Medicine and Boyce Thompson Institute highlights how gut microbes and the body collaborate to regulate fat metabolism and cholesterol levels.
Researchers identified a molecule, BA-MCY, produced by the body with microbial influence, which counters signals from gut bacteria to maintain bile acid balance, essential for fat digestion and cholesterol control.
Boosting BA-MCY levels in mice reduced liver fat, and dietary fiber increased its production. Evidence of BA-MCY in human blood suggests similar processes occur in people. This mechanism could advance understanding of microbiota’s role in conditions like obesity and chronic inflammation.
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