Construction of an in Vitro Intestinal Microbial Ecological Simulation System for Obese People

About 2.6 billion people ( about 40 % of the world 's population ) are affected by overweight or obesity. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Chinese adults has exceeded 50 %, and the prevalence is still on the rise.The gut microbiota is regarded as an endocrine organ and participates in energy balance. Diet changes can disrupt the relationship between the microbiota and the host, leading to metabolic diseases.Although human studies provide important information, there are limitations, such as the entry of complex gastrointestinal environment limiting components, the lack of dynamic microbial process information, and the uncertainty of drug side effects. In vitro methods can solve these problems, allowing dynamic sampling, standardized operation, high repeatability, and evaluation of potential toxins and pathogens. In vitro models are widely used to evaluate the effects on the human colon microbiome and to predict in vivo results.Based on the above research background, this study aims to collect fecal samples from obese people to construct an in vitro intestinal microbial ecological simulation system. This will lay an experimental foundation for further exploring the effect of specific nutrient intervention on the composition and function of gut microbiota in obese people.