Permethrin Stimulates Fat Accumulation via Regulating Gut Microbiota and Its Metabolites in Mice

Permethrin, a commonly used type I pyrethroid insecticide, has been shown to induce insulin resistance and adipogenesis, however the molecular mechanisms driving these effects remain unclear. This research demonstrated that permethrin disrupts the balance of gut microbiota, particularly altering <i>Firmicutes</i> and <i>Bacteroidetes</i> ratios, leading to increased adipogenesis and metabolic disorders. Antibiotic treatment significantly alleviated the effects of permethrin, highlighting the potential role of gut microbiota in obesity and insulin resistance. Fecal microbiota transplantation further confirmed the causal role of microbiota in fat accumulation. Additionally, microbial metabolites such as butyrate and indole were found to mitigate the fat accumulation induced by permethrin. Overall, our findings reveal that permethrin promotes obesity through the regulation of gut microbiota and their metabolites, providing important new insights into the health risks associated with permethrin exposure.