Reducing short-chain fatty acids and energy uptake in obese humans by managing their intestinal microbial communities

Abstract

The present invention provides for microbial compositions and methods for reducing the concentration of short-chain fatty acids in the gut as a way to reduce energy uptake and manage obesity. More specifically, the invention provides for decreasing short-chain fatty acids available for absorption in the human gut, such as acetate, using one or more of: a probiotic including a homo-acetogenic, acetate oxidizing bacterium that converts acetate to H 2 ; a probiotic including an acetoclastic methanogen; a microbial electrolysis cell comprising a homo-acetogenic bacterium and/or an acetoclastic methanogen; a prebiotic that enhances the growth or function of acetate-scavenging microbiota; or a highly selective antibiotic that targets H 2 -oxidizing methanogens.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A composition for decreasing acetate available for absorption in the human gut comprising at least one of the following:
 a probiotic comprising an acetoclastic methanogen;   a probiotic comprising a homo-acetogenic, an acetate-oxidizing bacterium that converts acetate to H 2 ;   a miniaturized microbial electrolysis cell comprising an anode-respiring bacterium, that oxidizes acetate and produces H 2 ;   a prebiotic that enhances the growth or function of acetate-scavenging microbiota; or   an antibiotic.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the antibiotic is a selective antibiotic that targets H 2 -oxidizing methanogens. 
     
     
         3 . A method of managing obesity comprising administering to a patient in need thereof the composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the patient has undergone or will undergo gastric bypass surgery or gastric banding surgery.