Abstract
Colonic diverticula are protrusions of the mucosa through weak areas of the colonic musculature. The etiology of diverticulosis is poorly understood, but could be related to gut bacteria. Using mucosal biopsies from the sigmoid colon of 226 subjects with and 309 subjects without diverticula during first-time screening colonoscopy, we assessed whether individuals with incidental colonic diverticulosis have alternations in the adherent bacterial communities in the sigmoid colon. We found little evidence of substantial associations between the microbial community and diverticulosis among cases and controls. Comparisons of bacterial abundances across all taxonomic levels showed differences for phylum Proteobacteria (p = 0.038) and family Comamonadaceae (p = 0.035). The r-squared values measuring the strength of these associations were very weak, however, with values ~2%. There was a similarly small association between the abundance of each taxa and total diverticula counts. Cases with proximal only diverticula and distal only diverticula likewise showed little difference in overall microbiota profiles. This large study suggests little association between diverticula and the mucosal microbiota overall, or by diverticula number and location. We conclude that the mucosal adherent microbiota community composition is unlikely to play a substantial role in development of diverticulosis.
Highlights
Comparisons of bacterial abundances across all taxonomic levels showed differences for phylum d Proteobacteria (p = 0.038) and family Comamonadaceae (p = 0.035)
Re Colonic diverticulosis and diverticular-related disorders are common in the United States
Colonic diverticula can be complicated by acute inflammation, infection, hemorrhage and there is some evidence for a spectrum of chronic diverticula-related bowel o disorders
Summary
At an FDR-adjusted threshold of p < 0.05, three taxa (Table 3) were significantly associated with the diverticula count, but again the effect size were very modest with r-squared values ~1%. U can only occur in patients with diverticulosis, if we could uncover the etiologic risk factors for diverticula, we could potentially prevent complications In this large study, we found little to no difference in microbial composition between individuals with and without diverticula. The patients with diverticulosis had a lower relative abundance of Clostridium cluster IV bacteria, the difference was not statistically significant. The general microbiota composition in colonic biopsies showed no significant differences between controls and diverticulosis patients. The pilot study by Barbara et al reported differences in the microbial composition in symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease patients compared to normal controls[10]. Enrollment of participants and laboratory experiments were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and institutional regulations
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