Issue 10/2023
Denchev, V., Handjieva-Darlenska, T.
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty, Medical University – Sofia
Obesity is a chronic metabolic disorder, which is characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue due to increased energy intake and decreased energy expenditure, and also due to impaired regulation of appetite. Obesity has become a widely spread issue around the world during the last decades. It leads to the development of more than 250 complications, the most common of which are diabetes type 2, arterial hypertension, different types of cancer, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis and more.
In the last years there has been a growing scientific interest in the human gut microflora -the collection of microorganisms in the intestines, whose function and effects over the host macroorganism are highly dependent on the diet content. A large amount of research data shows that dysregulation of this system is fundamental for the pathogenesis of many systemic diseases. Studies have revealed the intricate interactions between food intake, dysregulation of gut microbiome and pathological processes in the human organism. There is available proof which shows that conditions such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and diabetes type 2 have a complex pathogenesis, based on interactions between a large amount of factors, including changes in the composition and function of gut microorganisms. Thorough investigation is needed in order to understand the genesis of the aforementioned pathological processes and to develop a therapy, specifically targeted to influence the human microflora.
Key words: gut microbiota, obesity, low level of inflammation
Address for correspondence:
V. Denchev, T. Handjieva-Darlenska
Medical University – Sofia, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, floor 3,
Medical-Biological Complex, 2, „Zdrave“, Str.
1431, Sofia
e-mail: v.denchev@medfac.mu-sofia.bg;
e-mail: tdarlenska@medfac.mu-sofia.bg