Abstract
Background: Back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide and is associated with obesity and chronic low-grade inflammation. Alterations in intestinal microbiota may contribute to the pathogenesis of back pain through metabolites affecting immune and inflammatory responses.Aims and Methods: We compared the gut microbiota composition in a cohort of 36 overweight or obese individuals with or without self-reported back pain in the preceding month. Participants were characterized for anthropometry; bone health; metabolic health; inflammation; dietary intake; and physical activity.Results: Demographic, clinical, biochemical characteristics, diet and physical activity were similar between participants with (n = 14) or without (n = 22) back pain. Individuals with back pain had a higher abundance of the genera Adlercreutzia (p = 0.0008; FDR = 0.027), Roseburia (p = 0.0098; FDR = 0.17), and Uncl. Christensenellaceae (p = 0.02; FDR = 0.27) than those without back pain. Adlercreutzia abundance remained higher in individuals with back pain in the past 2 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year. Adlercreutzia was positively correlated with BMI (rho = 0.35, p = 0.03), serum adipsin (rho = 0.33, p = 0.047), and serum leptin (rho = 0.38, p = 0.02).Conclusions: Our findings suggest that back pain is associated with altered gut microbiota composition, possibly through increased inflammation. Further studies delineating the underlying mechanisms may identify strategies for lowering Adlercreutzia abundance to treat back pain.
Highlights
Back pain is the single leading cause of disability worldwide and poses a considerable health and financial burden [1]
Evidence suggests that chronic low-grade inflammation, which often co-exists with obesity, may contribute to back pain [4]
We report the novel finding that the abundance of Adlercreutzia was higher in individuals with back pain, and Adlercreutzia abundance was positively correlated with Body mass index (BMI) and inflammation as measured by serum leptin and adipsin concentrations
Summary
Back pain is the single leading cause of disability worldwide and poses a considerable health and financial burden [1]. Back pain affects around 12% of the adult population, with a 1-month, 1-year, and lifetime prevalence of 23, 38, and 40%, respectively [2]. These figures are expected to rise in line with an aging and more obese population [2]. Evidence suggests that chronic low-grade inflammation, which often co-exists with obesity, may contribute to back pain [4]. Back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide and is associated with obesity and chronic low-grade inflammation. Alterations in intestinal microbiota may contribute to the pathogenesis of back pain through metabolites affecting immune and inflammatory responses
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