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Commensal Bacterial and Obesity Link Between Commensal Essay
Commensal Bacterial and Obesity
Link Between Commensal Bacteria And Obesity
Biological Paper
Link between Commensal Bacteria and Obesity
Link between Commensal Bacteria and Obesity
A global obesity epidemic is having a major impact on the healthcare costs of developed nations (Brody, 2011). For example, the annual healthcare cost of obesity in the U.S. is estimated to be $150 billion (Hurt, Kulisek, Buchanan, and McClave, 2010). This epidemic has been blamed on a powerful fast food and beverage industry, the comparatively low cost and convenience of these foods, and the increased prevalence of sedentary lifestyles. Another less obvious cause may be western medicine. This essay will describe the role western medicine may be playing in promoting an obesity epidemic.
The Human Microbiome
An adult human body contains approximately 60 to 90 trillion cells (Iyer, n.d.), but the bacterial contribution is 10 times that number (Ackerman, 2012). While most of the bacteria reside in the colon, scientists are discovering that they play important roles at other locations in and on the human body. These insights have been revolutionizing how we view the relationship between these commensal organisms and human health.
Gut bacteria promote human well being by supplying a substantial portion of our vitamin B12 and breaking down complex carbohydrates and other indigestible food components (Ackerman, 2012). While the human genome encodes for a few enzymes needed to process complex carbohydrates, the genome of one commensal bacterium, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, contains over 250 such genes. Given that the human genome contains about 20,000 to 25,000 genes and the human microbiome collectively contributes 3.3 million genes, it is hard not to wonder if we could survive without the enzymes, proteins, hormones, vitamins, and pathogen defense these organisms provide. As Ackerman (2012) suggests in her opening line, who's controlling who?
Another bacterium, Helicobacter pylori, was shown to be a primary contributing factor to peptic ulcers and for this reason…
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References
Ackerman, Jennifer. (2012, June). The ultimate social network. Scientific American, 306(6), 36-43.
Brody, Jane E. (2011, Sep. 12). Attacking the obesity epidemic by first figuring out its cause. New York Times, p. D7.
Hurt, Ryan T., Kulisek, Christopher, Buchanan, Laura A., and McClave, Stephen A. (2010). The obesity epidemic: Challenges, health initiatives, and implications for gastroenterologists. Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 6(12), 780-792.
Iyer, Shyamala. (n.d.). Building blocks of life. Ask a Biologist. Retrieved 24 Sep. 2012 from http://askabiologist.asu.edu/explore/building-blocks-life.