Abstract
Emerging evidence links the gut microbiota with several chronic diseases. However, the relationships between metabolic syndrome (MetS), obesity and the gut microbiome are inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate associations between gut microbiota composition and diversity and metabolic health status in older adults (n = 382; median age = 69.91 [± 5 years], male = 50.79%) with and without obesity. Gut microbiome composition was determined by sequencing 16S rRNA gene amplicons. Results showed that alpha diversity and richness, as indicated by the Chao1 index (p = 0.038), phylogenetic diversity (p = 0.003) and observed species (p = 0.038) were higher among the metabolically healthy non-obese (MHNO) individuals compared to their metabolically unhealthy non-obese (MUNO) counterparts. Beta diversity analysis revealed distinct differences between the MHNO and MUNO individuals on the phylogenetic distance scale (R2 = 0.007, p = 0.004). The main genera contributing to the gut composition among the non-obese individuals were Prevotella, unclassified Lachnospiraceae, and unclassified Ruminococcaceae. Prevotella, Blautia, Bacteroides, and unclassified Ruminococcaceae mainly contributed to the variation among the obese individuals. Co-occurrence network analysis displayed different modules pattern among different metabolic groups and revealed groups of microbes significantly correlated with individual metabolic health markers. These findings confirm relationships between metabolic health status and gut microbiota composition particularly, among non-obese older adults.
Highlights
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by a clustering of metabolic abnormalities and risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) including central obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia and elevated fasting glucose [1,2]
Anthropometric (BMI, waist circumference) and clinical parameters including SBP, haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting glucose, VLDL-C and triglyceride concentrations were higher and HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations were lower among the metabolically unhealthy non-obese (MUNO) and metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO) groups compared to their metabolically healthy counterparts (MHNO and metabolically healthy obese (MHO))
Dietary differences were observed when all four groups were compared, no differences were noted within the non-obese (MHNO vs. MUNO) or obese groups (MHO vs. MUO)
Summary
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by a clustering of metabolic abnormalities and risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) including central obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia and elevated fasting glucose [1,2]. The increasing incidence of MetS is associated with high morbidity and mortality and concomitant economic and social burden [3]. MetS represents a significant public health concern requiring more effective preventative and therapeutic strategies. Obesity plays a significant role; obesity is a heterogeneous condition and not all individuals with obesity display MetS features [4]. It has been recognized that some individuals with obesity have preserved metabolic function generally defined as an absence
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