Craving chocolate even though you’ve just eaten. Craving vegetables even though you don’t usually like them. What we want to eat isn’t determined solely by the brain. Billions of gut bacteria and other microorganisms in our gut are also constantly sending signals that can influence our eating behavior.
PD Dr. Veronica Witte is researching exactly that. At Leipzig University Medical Center, the biologist is investigating how the gut microbiome – that is, the totality of all gut bacteria and microorganisms in the gut – influences our eating behavior. “The fact that our brain is constantly changing and that we can influence it has fascinated me ever since I was a student,” she says. As part of the LeiCeM Cluster of Excellence, she works closely with experts in medicine, nutrition science, and metabolic research.
In the long term, the findings could help develop new therapies for severe obesity and tailor dietary recommendations more closely to individual needs.
Chicory to Curb Cravings
Witte and her team have already obtained initial results. In a study, participants took a supplement made from chicory root. Afterward, their brains showed a weaker response to images of high-calorie foods than before. The researchers suspect that certain compounds in the plant may send signals to the brain via changes in the gut, thereby influencing cravings for energy-dense foods.
Blood and stool samples, as well as high-resolution MRI scans, helped reveal these connections. Such findings could aid in the development of new medications or dietary plans for people who are severely overweight. The research is still in its early stages. “Small changes in eating behavior likely only affect our measurement data after a certain amount of time,” says Witte. That is why her team is planning a six-month study with a follow-up examination after three years.
In doing so, the researchers also want to take into account that every person has a unique microbiome consisting of gut bacteria and microorganisms, comparable to a biological fingerprint. The goal is to incorporate factors such as sleep, exercise, and the individual microbiome. Artificial intelligence will help identify patterns in the complex data. “Perhaps one day we’ll be able to use a few simple tests to provide patients with personalized dietary recommendations that will help them live healthier lives and prevent them from getting sick in the first place.”
