Open AccessA pilot study to examine the association between human gut microbiota and the host's central obesity
Author(s) -
Koo Seok Hwee,
Chu Collins Wenhan,
Khoo Joan Joo Ching,
Cheong Magdalin,
Soon Gaik Hong,
Ho Eliza Xin Pei,
Law Ngai Moh,
De Sessions Paola Florez,
Fock Kwong Ming,
Ang Tiing Leong,
Lee Edmund Jon Deoon,
Hsiang John Chen
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
jgh open
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.546
H-Index - 8
ISSN - 2397-9070
DOI - 10.1002/jgh3.12184
Subject(s) - obesity , gut flora , microbiome , biology , adiponectin , medicine , insulin resistance , bacteroides , waist , endocrinology , physiology , immunology , genetics , bacteria
Background and Aim Perturbance in the composition of human gut microbiota has been associated with metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, and insulin resistance. The objectives of this study are to examine the effects of ethnicity, central obesity, and recorded dietary components on potentially influencing the human gut microbiome. We hypothesize that these factors have an influence on the composition of the gut microbiome. Methods Subjects of Chinese ( n = 14), Malay ( n = 10), and Indian ( n = 11) ancestry, with a median age of 39 years (range: 22–70 years old), provided stool samples for gut microbiome profiling using 16S rRNA sequencing and completed a dietary questionnaire. The serum samples were assayed for a panel of biomarkers (interleukin‐6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, adiponectin, cleaved cytokeratin 18, lipopolysaccharide‐binding protein, and limulus amebocyte lysate). Central obesity was defined by waist circumference cut‐off values for Asians. Results There were no significant differences in Shannon alpha diversity for ethnicity and central obesity and no associations between levels of inflammatory cytokines and obesity. The relative abundances of Anaerofilum ( P = 0.02), Gemellaceae ( P = 0.02), Streptococcaceae ( P = 0.03), and Rikenellaceae ( P = 0.04) were significantly lower in the obese group. From principle coordinate analysis, the effects of the intake of fiber and fat/saturated fat were in contrast with each other, with clustering of obese individuals leaning toward fiber. Conclusion The study demonstrated that there were differences in the gut microbiome in obese individuals. Certain bacterial taxa were present in lower abundance in the group with central obesity. Fiber and fat/saturated fat diets were not the key determinants of central obesity.