Next Article in Journal
Effect of Proanthocyanidins from Grape Seed Extract on Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Previous Article in Journal
The Potential Mechanism of Alpiniae oxyphyllae Fructus Against Hyperuricemia: An Integration of Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking, Molecular Dynamics Simulation, and In Vitro Experiments
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Nutrients
Volume 17
Issue 1
10.3390/nu17010072
nutrients-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Role of Increasing Body Mass Index in Gut Barrier Dysfunction, Systemic Inflammation, and Metabolic Dysregulation in Obesity

by
Fatima Maqoud
1,†,
Francesco Maria Calabrese
2,*,†,
Giuseppe Celano
2,
Domenica Mallardi
1,
Francesco Goscilo
1,
Benedetta D’Attoma
1,
Antonia Ignazzi
1,
Michele Linsalata
1,
Gabriele Bitetto
3,
Martina Di Chito
3,
Pasqua Letizia Pesole
4,
Arianna Diciolla
5,
Carmen Aurora Apa
2,
Giovanni De Pergola
3,
Gianluigi Giannelli
6,
Maria De Angelis
2 and
Francesco Russo
1,*
1
Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Group, National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy
2
Department of Soil, Plant and Food Science, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy
3
Center of Nutrition for the Research and the Care of Obesity and Metabolic Diseases, National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy
4
Core Facility Biobank, National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy
5
Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy
6
Scientific Direction, National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Nutrients 2025, 17(1), 72; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17010072
Submission received: 2 December 2024 / Revised: 24 December 2024 / Accepted: 26 December 2024 / Published: 28 December 2024
(This article belongs to the Section Nutrition and Obesity)
Browse Figures
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

Aims: This study explores the link between body mass index (BMI), intestinal permeability, and associated changes in anthropometric and impedance parameters, lipid profiles, inflammatory markers, fecal metabolites, and gut microbiota taxa composition in participants having excessive body mass. Methods: A cohort of 58 obese individuals with comparable diet, age, and height was divided into three groups based on a priori clustering analyses that fit with BMI class ranges: Group I (25–29.9), Group II (30–39.9), and Group III (>40). Anthropometric and clinical parameters were assessed, including plasma C-reactive protein and cytokine profiles as inflammation markers. Intestinal permeability was measured using a multisaccharide assay, with fecal/serum zonulin and serum claudin-5 and claudin-15 levels. Fecal microbiota composition and metabolomic profiles were analyzed using a phylogenetic microarray and GC-MS techniques. Results: The statistical analyses of the clinical parameters were based on the full sample set, whereas a subset composed of 37 randomized patients was inspected for the GC/MS metabolite profiling of fecal specimens. An increase in potentially pro-inflammatory bacterial genera (e.g., Slackia, Dorea, Granulicatella) and a reduction in beneficial genera (e.g., Adlercreutzia, Clostridia UCG-014, Roseburia) were measured. The gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of urine samples evidenced a statistically significant increase in m-cymen-8-ol, 1,3,5-Undecatriene, (E, Z) and a decreased concentration of p-cresol, carvone, p-cresol, and nonane. Conclusions: Together, these data demonstrated how an increased BMI led to significant changes in inflammatory markers, intestinal barrier metabolites, glucose metabolism, endocrine indicators, and fecal metabolomic profiles that can indicate a different metabolite production from gut microbiota. Our findings suggest that targeting intestinal permeability may offer a therapeutic approach to prevent and manage obesity and related metabolic complications, reinforcing the link between gut barrier function and obesity.
Keywords: obesity; body mass index (BMI); intestinal permeability; zonulin; inflammatory markers; fecal metabolomics; fecal microbiota obesity; body mass index (BMI); intestinal permeability; zonulin; inflammatory markers; fecal metabolomics; fecal microbiota

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Maqoud, F.; Calabrese, F.M.; Celano, G.; Mallardi, D.; Goscilo, F.; D’Attoma, B.; Ignazzi, A.; Linsalata, M.; Bitetto, G.; Di Chito, M.; et al. Role of Increasing Body Mass Index in Gut Barrier Dysfunction, Systemic Inflammation, and Metabolic Dysregulation in Obesity. Nutrients 2025, 17, 72. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17010072

AMA Style

Maqoud F, Calabrese FM, Celano G, Mallardi D, Goscilo F, D’Attoma B, Ignazzi A, Linsalata M, Bitetto G, Di Chito M, et al. Role of Increasing Body Mass Index in Gut Barrier Dysfunction, Systemic Inflammation, and Metabolic Dysregulation in Obesity. Nutrients. 2025; 17(1):72. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17010072

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maqoud, Fatima, Francesco Maria Calabrese, Giuseppe Celano, Domenica Mallardi, Francesco Goscilo, Benedetta D’Attoma, Antonia Ignazzi, Michele Linsalata, Gabriele Bitetto, Martina Di Chito, and et al. 2025. "Role of Increasing Body Mass Index in Gut Barrier Dysfunction, Systemic Inflammation, and Metabolic Dysregulation in Obesity" Nutrients 17, no. 1: 72. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17010072

APA Style

Maqoud, F., Calabrese, F. M., Celano, G., Mallardi, D., Goscilo, F., D’Attoma, B., Ignazzi, A., Linsalata, M., Bitetto, G., Di Chito, M., Pesole, P. L., Diciolla, A., Apa, C. A., De Pergola, G., Giannelli, G., De Angelis, M., & Russo, F. (2025). Role of Increasing Body Mass Index in Gut Barrier Dysfunction, Systemic Inflammation, and Metabolic Dysregulation in Obesity. Nutrients, 17(1), 72. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17010072

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop