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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 Apr 1.
Published in final edited form as: Nutr Clin Pract. 2012 Feb 24;27(2):201–214. doi: 10.1177/0884533611436116

Figure 2.

Figure 2

The gut microbiome has a regulatory function on host energy metabolism. By breaking down nondigestible polysaccharides, gut microorganisms produce monosaccharides and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). SCFAs bind to GPR 41/43 receptors and stimulate peptide YY (PYY) production, which inhibits gut motility and allows gut microbes to digest more polysaccharides. Gut microbes also regulate energy metabolism by reducing the expression of fasting-induced adipocyte factor (Fiaf) from gut epithelial cells. Suppressed Fiaf release results in the degradation of lipoproteins and deposition of free fatty acids in adipose tissues. The adiposity in liver and skeletal muscles is also regulated by microorganisms through the changes of phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) levels. LPL, lipoprotein lipase; VLDL, very low-density lipoprotein.