TKT and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency: Our analyses also supported studies of well-known probiotics: Bifidobacterium adolescentis, a short-chain fatty acid-producing species that is decreased in obesity [53,59], correlated with more lactose consumption and was linked to increased expression of TKT (Figure 4B), a host enzyme which is crucial for connecting glycolysis to downstream metabolic pathways and protecting against intestinal colitis [60].