A possible gut microbiota basis for weight gain side effects of antipsychotic drugs

Abstract: Weight gain is a well-established side effect of both conventional and newer anti-psychotic drugs, but the cause is not well understood. Recent studies correlate obesity with the presence or absence of particular genetic sequences in the gut microbiota. We identified strong associations between protein targets of antipsychotics and microbiota sequences directly related to weight regulation in human body, leading to a potential metagenomic mechanism of action. Further experimental study is recommended.