Cross-sectional associations between the gut microbe Ruminococcus gnavus and features of the metabolic syndrome: the HUNT study

It is well established that the gut microbiota influences obesity in mice. In humans, some gut microbes have been associated with obesity, 1,2 but results have been difficult to replicate, proposedly due to small studies and confounders.3,4 Insufficient control over medication use can interfere with the results, given that several medications are known to influence the composition of gut microbiota.3 Other major confounders of gut microbiota associations are age, sex, diet, bowel movement quality, alcohol intake, smoking, and comorbidities.