Omega-3 fatty acids correlate with gut microbiome diversity and production of N-carbamylglutamate in middle aged and elderly women

Cristina Menni,Tao Long,Ana M Valdes,Robert P Mohney,Matthew A Jackson,Jonas Zierer,Claire J Steves,Tim D Spector,Tess Pallister

doi:10.1038/s41598-017-10382-2

Abstract

Omega-3 fatty acids may influence human physiological parameters in part by affecting the gut microbiome. The aim of this study was to investigate the links between omega-3 fatty acids, gut microbiome diversity and composition and faecal metabolomic profiles in middle aged and elderly women. We analysed data from 876 twins with 16S microbiome data and DHA, total omega-3, and other circulating fatty acids. Estimated food intake of omega-3 fatty acids were obtained from food frequency questionnaires. Both total omega-3and DHA serum levels were significantly correlated with microbiome alpha diversity (Shannon index) after adjusting for confounders (DHA Beta(SE) = 0.13(0.04), P = 0.0006 total omega-3: 0.13(0.04), P = 0.001). These associations remained significant after adjusting for dietary fibre intake. We found even stronger associations between DHA and 38 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), the strongest ones being with OTUs from the Lachnospiraceae family (Beta(SE) = 0.13(0.03), P = 8 × 10−7). Some of the associations with gut bacterial OTUs appear to be mediated by the abundance of the faecal metabolite N-carbamylglutamate. Our data indicate a link between omega-3 circulating levels/intake and microbiome composition independent of dietary fibre intake, particularly with bacteria of the Lachnospiraceae family. These data suggest the potential use of omega-3 supplementation to improve the microbiome composition.

Highlights

There is evidence indicating that dietary supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) may improves some health parameters in humans[1]
The serum circulating levels of the polyunsaturated fatty acids FAW3, FAW6, linolenic acid (LNA), and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) reflect in part the intake levels: we observe a significant correlation between dietary omega-3 fatty acid intake estimates from Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and serum levels of FAW3 (ρ = 0.168, p < 2.64 × 10−7)
In this study we show in a population based cohort of middle aged and elderly women that circulating levels of omega-3 fatty acids are associated with higher microbiome diversity and with a higher abundance of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to the Lachnospiraceae family

Summary

Introduction

There is evidence indicating that dietary supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) may improves some health parameters in humans[1]. Positive effects on health from omega-3 fatty acids have been observed for insulin resistance, adult-onset diabetes mellitus[5,6,7], hypertension[8, 9] arthritis[10, 11], atherosclerosis[12, 13], depression[14, 15], thrombosis[16], some cancers[17] and cognitive decline[18, 19]. Analysis of gut microbiota and faecal transfer in mice has revealed that elevated tissue omega-3 fatty acids enhance intestinal production and secretion of intestinal alkaline phosphatase, which induces changes in the gut bacteria composition resulting in decreased lipopolysaccharide production and gut permeability, and reduced metabolic endotoxemia and inflammation[24]

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