Gut Microbiota Shapes the Effects of Saturated and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Skin and Hair Follicle Homeostasis

This study explores how different fatty acid compositions affect skin and hair follicle homeostasis, emphasizing the gut microbiota's role. It finds that diets enriched with omega-6 and saturated fatty acids (SFAs) lead to weight gain, expansion of dermal white adipose tissue, enlargement of sebaceous glands, and increased hair follicle proliferation, all of which require the presence of microbes. In contrast, omega-3 diets reduce adiposity and dermal white adipose tissue expansion, with their effects on skin being dependent on the microbiota. The research highlights a diet–microbiota–lipid axis, where the gut microbiome selectively regulates fatty acid metabolism, impacting systemic lipid availability and skin homeostasis.