Intestinal microbiota and Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by a severe malnutrition, an intense fear of gaining weight and a disturbed self-body image. Anorexia is conventionally considered as a multifactorial disease depending on biological, psychological and socio-cultural factors. Among the different biological factors involved in this eating disorder, the gut microbiota has recently gained a lot of attention. Indeed, the identification of an intestinal microbiota dysbiosis in individuals with anorexia has opened new and promising lines of research. These researches focus in particular on the role of intestinal micro-organisms in the functional gastrointestinal disorders associated with Anorexia, in anxiety and depression-related disorders as well as in the regulation of eating behavior. This review aims to present the current knowledge about the putative role of the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis, course and treatment of Anorexia nervosa.