LAUSR

In 2018, more than 4,000 publications were dedicated to the study of the gut microbiota, and an important proportion investigated cardiometabolic disorders associated with overweight and obesity. Novel mechanisms and strategies have emerged, some of which were focused not only on specific bacteria or nutrients, but also on new metabolites.Key advancesFaecal salinity shapes the microbiota by reducing the abundance of Bifidobacterium and Akkermansia7.Imidazole propionate is increased in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); this compound directly contributes to the development of insulin resistance6.Bifidobacterium and Akkermansia muciniphila have been inversely associated with low-grade inflammation, insulin resistance and T2DM8.