the presence of the bacterium could be used as an obesity indicator

Research done in Boston, America shows that a bacterium found in the mouth could be causing higher rates of obesity. The researchers who were led by Mr J. Max Goodson said that it was certain that the general composition of bacteria in saliva was significantly different in overweight women when compared to normal weight women.

Mr. Goodson and his team who work at the Forsyth Institute analysed samples of saliva from over 300 overweight women and more than 230 normal weight women. Fascinatingly it was seen that almost 99 percent of the samples of saliva originating from the overweight women had a bacterium called Selenomanas Noxia present in them and that it was not present in the samples originating from the normal weight women.

The researchers speculated that the presence of the bacterium could be used as an obesity indicator and could also be connected to the underlying cause of the weight problem. At this stage in the study the researchers made clear that they could not draw any concrete solution but further research was definitely merited. It could also however be that simple explanations such as diet and metabolic changes due to the increased weight were responsible for the presence of the bacterium.

Whatever the case it is extremely important that the researchers identify why exactly this bacterium is present and what causes its formation. Having a knowledge of the mechanisms and processes surrounding this bacterium could lead to weight loss treatments and remedies in the future.

It may also be that this bacterium could aggravate and be the cause of certain obesity related illnesses. Being obese is responsible for aggravating practically every single illness known to man and is causing a plague of illness in first world countries around the world.

The research was printed in the Journal of Dental Research.