Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to explore the relationship between the fecal metabolites and gut microbiota in obese patients with PCOS and provide a new strategy to elucidate the pathological mechanism of obesity and PCOS.Methods: The fecal samples of obese patients with PCOS (n = 18) and obese women without PCOS (n = 15) were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and untargeted metabolomics. The peripheral venous blood of all subjects was collected to detect serum sex hormones. The association among fecal metabolites, gut microbiota, and serum sex hormones was analyzed with the R language.Results: A total of 122 named differential fecal metabolites and 18 enrichment KEGG pathways were obtained between the groups. Seven fecal metabolites can be used as characteristic metabolites, including DHEA sulfate. The richness and diversity of gut microbiota in the obese PCOS group were lower than those in the control group. Lachnoclostridium, Fusobacterium, Coprococcus_2, and Tyzzerela 4 were the characteristic genera of the obese patients with PCOS. Serum T level significantly and positively correlated with the abundance of fecal DHEA sulfate (p < 0.05), and serum DHEAS level significantly and negatively correlated with the abundance of fecal teasterone (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Specific fecal metabolites may be used as characteristic metabolites for obese patients with PCOS. The closely relationship among gut microbiota, fecal metabolites, and serum sex hormones may play a role in the related changes caused by hyperandrogenemia.
Highlights
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a chronic disorder of ovulation caused by abnormal reproductive endocrine and metabolic functions
No significant difference was found in age and BMI between the obese patients with PCOS and controls, which minimized the influence of confounding factors on the experimental results
The baseline of basic peak ion (BPI) (±) flow graph of the two groups was stable, and the number and height of ion peaks were significantly different between the obese PCOS and control groups
Summary
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a chronic disorder of ovulation caused by abnormal reproductive endocrine and metabolic functions. The incidence rate of PCOS in women of child-bearing age is 9–18%, and its etiology remains unclear [1, 2]. Obesity is not included in the diagnosis standard of PCOS, according to the diagnostic criteria for obesity in China [3], ∼38–88% of patients with PCOS are overweight or obese. The incidence rate of PCOS in obese people is much higher than that in people with normal weight [4]. In patients with PCOS, obesity aggravates their reproductive dysfunction, further affects their pregnancy outcomes, and improves their risk of reproductive system tumors and cardiovascular diseases [5]. No breakthrough exists in the treatment of obesity [6]
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