London - Anorexia and bulimia might be effectively treated using antibiotics, scientists say.
They have identified bacteria in the gut which prevent the body from regulating appetite.
While psychological factors are a major cause of eating disorders, doctors think destroying the bacteria could help sufferers.
Professor Serguei Fetissov, whose research is published in journal Translational Psychiatry, said: “Theoretically, we could use selective antibiotic treatments to approach this. It really opens up a new view on these diseases. We have been so focused on the brain [.?.?.] but it looks as though the intestine is also important.”
His team at Inserm – France’s national research institute – and the University of Rouen found that some bacteria produce a protein called ClpB. When the body detects the protein, it makes antibodies to attack it. But ClpB is almost identical to a hormone that controls appetite called melanotropin – so the antibodies also attack the hormone.
The researchers screened 60 people for the antibodies and found higher levels in those with eating disorders. They have also tested their theory in mice.
In anorexia, the body feels full too early. In bulimia – binge eating and being sick – the body does not realise when it is full.
It is unclear how the bacterial problem is connected to the psychological aspects of eating disorders. Prof Fetissov said that a key risk factor for the disorders is stress, which could include “intestinal stress” in the form of risk of infection from bacteria.
He said: “I think psychological factors trigger anorexia or bulimia [and] the molecular condition maintains the disease.”
His team are working on a blood test that would detect whether patients had high levels of ClpB protein. This could help doctors decide how to treat them. - Daily Mail