Dysosmobacter welbionis, lien entre alimentation et santé métabolique

Dysosmobacter welbionis, a recently discovered gut bacterium, is associated with improved metabolic health. Until now, the underlying mechanisms have remained poorly understood.

Researchers led by Patrice Cani (WEL Research Institute – UCLouvain) have shown that D. welbionis can convert myo-inositol - a nutrient found in fruits, whole grains, nuts and legumes - into butyrate, a key molecule for metabolic function, via a completely novel enzymatic pathway not found in other known gut bacteria. The team also found that D. welbionis is common in healthy individuals but reduced in those with liver disease, and that supplementation improved blood sugar levels and reduced liver fat in diabetic and obese mice.

D. welbionis’s unique ability to produce butyrate from plant-derived nutrients, combined with the benefits observed in mouse studies, highlights its promising potential for supporting metabolic and liver health.

Reference: Lee et al, Novel myo-inositol to butyrate fermentation pathway in the prevalent human gut species Dysosmobacter welbionis, a bacterium associated with improved metabolic and liver health, Gut (2026) doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2025-336617

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