The Role of Gut Microbiota in Gastrointestinal Disorders: Investigating How Dysbiosis Contributes to Conditions Like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Obesity, and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Submission: 10 February 2026 | Acceptance: 24 May 2026 | Publication: 10 June 2026
1Dr Saad Abdullah, 2Dr Ikram, 3Dr. Sadaf Anwar Qureshi, 4Dr Hadi Raza,5Dr. Muhammad Sohail Baig, 6Dr Usman Gill
1Senior Registrar, Department of Medicine, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro
2University of Health Sciences (UHS), Lahore
3Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad
4Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad
5Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad
6Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad
Corresponding: Dr. Sadaf Anwar Qureshi, Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad
ABSTRACT:
Background: The gut microbiota present in human bodies serves as a crucial element to sustain gastrointestinal systems along with metabolic functions. Multiple scientific studies have shown that disturbed microbial equilibrium known as dysbiosis leads to several gastrointestinal problems such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), obesity as well as Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). Therapies require development that targets dysbiosis patterns because doctors need to understand their clinical implications.
Aim: Researchers investigated how gut microbiota dysbiosis affected the creation of IBS, obesity, and NAFLD through specific microbial balance identification.
Methods: The study took place at Allied Hospital in Faisalabad during 2024 February until 2025 January. Researchers enrolled 100 participants who had either IBS, obesity or NAFLD diagnosis. Scientists collected stool samples which they analyzed through 16S rRNA gene sequencing to determine microbial diversity as well as composition. In addition to testing microbiota profiles the research team gathered clinical along with demographic data to check for associations.
Results: Results showed patients with IBS presented reduced microbial diversity while Proteobacteria numbers showed significant increases in the same group. Research data indicated that obesity increases the presence of Firmicutes bacteria and raises the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes count. People with NAFLD experienced a dual increase of Enterobacteriaceae along with decreased levels of beneficial bacterial groups including Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. All three conditions showed unique dysbiosis patterns which amounted to inflammation markers and unbalanced metabolic functions. Conclusion: The collected data established direct relationships between the abnormalities of gut microbiota as well as their roles in IBS development and NAFLD and obesity. Each condition displayed specific microbial patterns which calls for potential future use of behavior-modified microbial communities as a potential clinical tool for treating these conditions.
Keywords: Gut microbiota, Dysbiosis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Obesity, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Gastrointestinal disorders, Microbial diversity.