The mammalian gut microbiota is a complex ecosystem, its composition and diversity depends on various factors including diet, environment, health and disease. Our preliminary data strongly indicate that gut microbiota influence absorption of dietary lipids, intestinal fatty acid trafficking, de novo synthesis and secretion into the circulation. A dysregulation of the intestinal lipid metabolism may be associated with metabolic overload. Moreover, intestinal FA synthesis may be involved in the formation of the intestinal barrier function and associated inflammatory pathologies. Gut microbiota might represent attractive targets for modulating dietary lipid resorption and intestinal lipid synthesis. Therefore, the primary objectives of this project are to investigate if and how gut microbiota composition and diversity affects the resorption of fatty acids, intestinal lipid synthesis and storage. This includes its effects on lipid composition of the intestinal barrier as well as the role of microbiota derived short chain fatty acids.
DFG Programme
Priority Programmes
