Abstract
The gut microbiome is a key factor in chronic liver disease progression. In prior research, we found that the duodenal microbiome was associated with sex, ethnicity, and cirrhosis complications. Here, we examined the association between diet and the duodenal microbiome in patients with liver cirrhosis. This study included 51 participants who completed a detailed food frequency questionnaire and donated duodenal biopsies for microbiome characterization by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Data were analyzed for alpha diversity, beta diversity, and association of taxa abundance with diet quality and components using QIIME 2 pipelines. Diet quality was assessed through calculation of the Healthy Eating Index 2010. Participants with higher adherence to protein recommendations exhibited increased microbial richness and evenness (p = 0.03) and a different microbial profile compared to those with lower adherence (p = 0.03). Prevotella-9 and Agathobacter were increased in association with increased protein adherence. Fiber consumption was also associated with the duodenal microbial profile (p = 0.01), with several taxa exhibiting significantly decreased or increased abundance in association with fiber intake. Coffee drinking was associated with microbial richness and evenness (p = 0.001), and there was a dose–response association between coffee drinking and relative abundance of Veillonella (p = 0.01). We conclude that protein, fiber, and coffee are associated with diversity and composition of the duodenal microbiome in liver cirrhosis.
Highlights
Liver cirrhosis is characterized by an irreversible state of hepatic injury that includes vascular distortion, fibrosis, and inflammation, and is considered the penultimate step of the multistage pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
This gut is the first study to liver report on the association diet patients and the with cirrhosis duodenal microbial profiles that are responsive to underlying dietary practices
We observed differences in the microbiome in relation to total protein, whole grains, fiber, and coffee cirrhosis have duodenal microbial profiles that are responsive to underlying dietary practices
Summary
Liver cirrhosis is characterized by an irreversible state of hepatic injury that includes vascular distortion, fibrosis, and inflammation, and is considered the penultimate step of the multistage pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The portal venous system, which carries nutrients, bacterial components and metabolites from the intestine is the principle circulation to the liver Liver exposure to these highly immunogenic features is increased when gut barrier function is compromised, as it is in cirrhosis [6]. The relative abundance of potentially pathogenic taxa increases, while beneficial bacterial abundance decreases, as liver disease worsens [13,14] In addition to these compositional changes, functional changes, including increased LPS and altered bile acid compositions, have been reported in association with progressive disease states [15]. We examined the association of specific dietary habits selected a priori (overall diet quality, protein, whole grains, fiber, and coffee consumption) with microbiome diversity and composition in patients with liver cirrhosis at risk of HCC. In view of the critical role played by the small intestine in digestion through hormone secretion, absorption, bile acid metabolism, and development of mucosal immunity, we have focused our efforts here to characterize the small intestine microbiome
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
