THE ROLE OF MICROBIOT ENZYME SYSTEMS IN THE FORMATION OF HUMAN FOOD BEHAVIOR AND METABOLIC HOMEOSTASIS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/2786-9067-2026-31-8Keywords:
eating behavior, Akkermansia muciniphila, nutrition science, estrobolome, microbiomeAbstract
In modern medicine and nutrition science, there is growing interest in the issues of eating behavior disorders, obesity, and metabolic syndrome, highlighting the need to explore causes beyond the simple concept of “lack of willpower.” One of the key but insufficiently studied aspects is the influence of the enzymatic systems of gut bacteria and fungi on host biochemical signaling, which regulates energy requirements and dietary preferences.
The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms by which microbial enzymatic systems influence the formation of human eating preferences. Of particular relevance is the relationship between the energy status of bacteria, their capacity for persistence in the harsh intestinal environment, and their indirect modulation of satiety and reward hormones.
The gut microbiome functions as a potent endocrine organ. To maintain viability under conditions of peristalsis and substrate competition, microorganisms expend substantial ATP for the synthesis of hormone-like and signaling molecules. For example, β-glucuronidase, produced by Bacteroides fragilis and Clostridium spp., reactivates inactivated estrogens, which may lead to cyclical hormonal fluctuations and the formation of dietary cravings, particularly for carbohydrates. Dysbiosis of the microbiome can result in pathological enzymatic activity and is associated with endocrine and reproductive disorders.
Human eating behavior represents a complex compromise between physiological needs and the metabolic “interests” of the microbiome. Fungi of the genera Candida spp. and Saccharomyces spp. can influence the reward system by stimulating the release of neurotoxic or signaling molecules under conditions of sugar deficiency, thereby increasing the host’s craving for refined carbohydrates. Recognition of microorganisms as active regulators of eating behavior enables the development of therapeutic strategies focused not merely on dietary restriction but on biochemical modulation of the microbiome, offering new avenues for the treatment of metabolic and psycho-emotional disorders.
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