Open Access

REVIEW

Research Advances and Therapeutic Potential of Gut Microbiota in Metabolic Diseases

Shuyu Yuan^1,#, Guoxiao Han^1,#, Huimin Qiu¹, Henan Zheng², Rongzhi Fang¹, Wangmiao Xie¹, Wangui Yu^1,*, Xiaochun Peng^1,*

1 Health Sciences Center, Yangtze University, 434023, China
2 Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Wuhan Veterans’ and Preferential Treatment Hospital, Wuhan, 430024, China

* Corresponding Authors: Wangui Yu. Email: ; Xiaochun Peng. Email:
# These authors contributed equally to this work and should be considered co-first authors

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Gut Microbiota, Oxidative Stress, and Inflammation in Health and Disease)

BIOCELL 2026, 50(4), 6 https://doi.org/10.32604/biocell.2026.075338

Received 29 October 2025; Accepted 24 December 2025; Issue published 21 April 2026

Abstract

The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in maintaining host metabolic homeostasis. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is closely associated with metabolic disorders, including obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). These alterations affect energy harvest, bile acid and short-chain fatty acid metabolism, intestinal barrier integrity, and low-grade inflammation, thereby contributing to insulin resistance and ectopic fat accumulation. In this narrative review, we summarize current knowledge on microbiome-host interactions in metabolic diseases, with a focus on energy metabolism, immune regulation, and inflammatory pathways. We further discuss the therapeutic potential and limitations of microbiota-targeted interventions, such as probiotics, prebiotics, dietary modifications, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), highlighting the heterogeneity of clinical responses and safety considerations. Finally, we outline emerging precision strategies and future research directions aimed at integrating multi-omics profiling and patient stratification to inform personalized prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases.

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