Effects of Obesity and Avocado Extract on Gut Microbiota and Fecal Metabolomic Profile in Cats

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Evidence from animal and human studies suggests that obesity and related diseases are linked to shifts in the GM and altered metabolite production. The GM is a dynamic ecosystem that, while relatively stable in core composition, adapts to internal and external factors. Taxonomic changes can influence substrate availability, microbial interactions, and metabolic pathways, ultimately affecting host health. Our results indicate that AvX consumption can affect the GM composition and fecal microbial metabolite profiles in naturally overweight/obese cats, potentially offering benefits for managing overweight/obesity and associated comorbidities. There are significant differences in the GM between naturally lean and overweight/obese cats, likely related to better energy-harvesting abilities of the host that might be the target of future therapeutic interventions. However, additional larger-scale studies are needed to evaluate the effects of AvX on the GM, fecal metabolomic profile, and microbial tryptophan metabolism in cats with overweight/obesity and associated comorbidities.

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