Abstract
The gut microbiome has been speculated to modulate feeding behavior through multiple factors, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). Evidence on this relationship in humans is however lacking. We aimed to explore if specific bacterial genera relate to eating behavior, diet, and SCFA in adults. Moreover, we tested whether eating-related microbiota relate to treatment success in patients after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Anthropometrics, dietary fiber intake, eating behavior, 16S-rRNA-derived microbiota, and fecal and serum SCFA were correlated in young overweight adults (n = 27 (9 F), 21–36 years, BMI 25–31 kg/m2). Correlated genera were compared in RYGB (n = 23 (16 F), 41–70 years, BMI 25–62 kg/m2) and control patients (n = 17 (11 F), 26–69 years, BMI 25–48 kg/m2). In young adults, 7 bacteria genera, i.e., Alistipes, Blautia, Clostridiales cluster XVIII, Gemmiger, Roseburia, Ruminococcus, and Streptococcus, correlated with healthier eating behavior, while 5 genera, i.e., Clostridiales cluster IV and XIVb, Collinsella, Fusicatenibacter, and Parabacteroides, correlated with unhealthier eating (all | r | > 0.4, FDR-corrected p < 0.05). Some of these genera including Parabacteroides related to fiber intake and SCFA, and to weight status and treatment response in overweight/obese patients. In this exploratory analysis, specific bacterial genera, particularly Parabacteroides, were associated with weight status and eating behavior in two small, independent and well-characterized cross-sectional samples. These preliminary findings suggest two groups of presumably beneficial and unfavorable genera that relate to eating behavior and weight status, and indicate that dietary fiber and SCFA metabolism may modify these relationships. Larger interventional studies are needed to distinguish correlation from causation.
Highlights
Gut microbes modulate brain function and behavior via immune, endocrine, neural, and humoral routes [1]
We further considered anthropometric assessments to be of interest in this study and limited those to two major health indicators, i.e., systolic blood two years after bariatric surgery and control overweight/obese patients
Overall microbiota diversity at the phylum level was relatively comparable across participants of samples 1 and 2 except higher ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes in sample 1, and Prevotellaceae and Fusobacteriaceae families were more abundant in patients after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery (Fig. 1, Supplementary Figs. 3–4, see SI for details)
Summary
Gut microbes modulate brain function and behavior via immune, endocrine, neural, and humoral routes [1]. This could play a key role in neuronal feeding circuits and overeating, as dysbiosis of the microbiota composition has been documented in psychiatric eating disorders [2] and obesity [3]. Bariatric surgery led to higher overall microbiota diversity and to higher abundance of the species Escherichia coli and in some studies to further abundance changes within the phylum Bacteroidetes, such as a higher post-surgery ratio of the genera Bacteroides to Prevotella [5] and less Firmicutes (phylum level) or to more Gammaproteobacteria (class level) [6]. The ratio of Bacteroides to Prevotella at baseline predicted dietary weight loss success after 24 weeks in an intervention study in 80 overweight individuals [7]. A oneweek dietary intervention trial in 20 individuals found that microbial composition predicted glycemic response [8]
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