Losing weight for a better health: Role for the gut microbiota

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum BXM2 Treatment Alleviates Disorders Induced by a High-Fat Diet in Mice by Improving Intestinal Health and Modulating the Gut Microbiota

Objective:Lactiplantibacillus plantarum BXM2 is a novel probiotic derived from fermented passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) juice that possesses promising probiotic potential. The aim of this study was to evaluate the beneficial effects of L. plantarum BXM2 supplementation in mice. Methods:L. plantarum BXM2 was orally administered to male SPF C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) to evaluate its anti-obesity potential, as well as the effects on intestinal health and microbiota. Results: Our results demonstrated that L. plantarum BXM2 significantly decreased the perirenal adipose index and improved intestinal health by increasing the ratio of villus height to crypt depth and the goblet cell number in the intestine. Furthermore, L. plantarum BXM2 treatment exhibited regulatory effects on intestinal chronic inflammation in mice by normalizing the mRNA expression of TNF-α and IL-6. Of note, L. plantarum BXM2 reversed HFD-induced gut dysbiosis, as evidenced by the decreased ratio of Bacillota (Firmicutes) to Bacteroidota, the decreased abundance of obesity-related genera Dubosiella, Romboutsia, and Lachnospiraceae_UCG006, and the increased abundance of beneficial genera Akkermansia and Lactobacillus. Conclusions: Our findings support the beneficial role of L. plantarum BXM2 supplementation in interventions targeting gut dysbiosis and obesity-related disorders.

Effect of abrupt and gradual calorie restriction regimens on biochemical and behavioral markers in obese mice model

Background: Although Calorie Restriction (CR) is primarily considered in obesity management, behavioral studies of CR and its methodology of implementation are not well-defined. Objective: The study aimed to determine the efficacy of the extensively researched method of CR-abrupt calorie restriction (ACR) and a newly proposed gradual calorie restriction (GCR) in terms of body weight, behavioral and biochemical parameters in the obese animal model-C57BL/6J mice. Design: Male obese mice were subjected to GCR regimen for 14 weeks which was compared and evaluated for anxiety-like behavior and stress levels with ACR. Plasma corticosterone was measured before initiation of CR and every three weeks following GCR and ACR, whereas plasma insulin was measured twice-after obesity induction and post 14 weeks of CR. The behavioral assessments were conducted before inducing CR and every three weeks following ACR and GCR. Results: A significant anxiety-like behavior and an increase in plasma corticosterone were observed in mice on GCR during the critical initial six weeks of CR (p < 0.05). Both groups showed a decrease in plasma glucose levels; however, the GCR group showed a significant reduction (p < 0.01). There was a significant decrease in social interaction in both groups with an increase in the latency period and a decrease in time spent with the stranger animal during the social interaction test (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The mice on GCR regimen demonstrated lesser anxiety-like behavior and low plasma corticosterone levels compared to those on ACR. This gives us a new avenue in CR research to evaluate the methodologies of implementing CR.

Impact of Sleeve Gastrectomy on Fecal Microbiota in Individuals with Morbid Obesity

BACKGROUND

The intestinal microbiota plays an important role in the etiology of obesity. Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is a frequently performed and effective therapy for morbid obesity.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of sleeve gastrectomy on the fecal microbiota of individuals with morbid obesity and to examine whether shifts in microbiota composition are associated with markers of inflammation and intestinal barrier function.

METHODS

Fecal and blood samples of healthy individuals (n = 27) and morbidly obese individuals pre-SG (n = 24), and at 2 months (n = 13) and 6 months post-SG (n = 9) were collected. The 16SrRNA gene was sequenced to assess microbiota composition. Fecal calprotectin, plasma inflammatory markers and intestinal permeability markers (multi-sugar test) were determined.

RESULTS

Fecal microbiota composition between morbidly obese and lean individuals was significantly different. The fecal microbiota composition changed significantly 2 and 6 months post-SG (p = 0.008) compared to pre-SG but not towards a more lean profile. The post-SG microbiota profile was characterized by an increase in facultative anaerobic bacteria, characteristic for the upper gastrointestinal tract. No correlations were found between inflammatory markers, intestinal permeability and microbial profile changes.

CONCLUSIONS

Fecal microbiota composition in morbidly obese individuals changed significantly following SG. This change might be explained by functional changes induced by the SG procedure.

Inflammatory crosstalk between saturated fatty acids and gut microbiota-white adipose tissue axis

PURPOSE

High-fat diets have different metabolic responses via gut dysbiosis. In this review, we discuss the complex interaction between the intake of long- and medium-chain saturated fatty acids (SFAs), gut microbiota, and white adipose tissue (WAT) dysfunction, particularly focusing on the type of fat.

RESULTS

The evidence for the impact of dietary SFAs on the gut microbiota-WAT axis has been mostly derived from in vitro and animal models, but there is now also evidence emerging from human studies. Most current reports show that, in response to high long- and medium-chain SFA diets, WAT functions are altered and can be modulated from microbial metabolites in several manners; and it appears to be also modified under conditions of obesity. SFAs overconsumption can reduce bacterial content and disrupt the gut environment. Both long- and medium-chain SFAs may contribute to proinflammatory cytokines release and TLR4 cascade signaling, either by regulation of endotoxemia markers or myristoylated protein. Palmitic and stearic acids have pathological effects on the intestinal epithelium, microbes, and inflammatory and lipogenic WAT profiles. While myristic and lauric acids display somewhat controversial outcomes, from probiotic effects and contribution to weight loss to cardiometabolic alterations from WAT inflammation.

CONCLUSION

Identifying an interference of distinct types of SFA in the binomial gut microbiota-WAT may elucidate essential mechanisms of metabolic endotoxemia, which may be the key to triggering obesity, innovating the therapeutic tools for this disease.

Diet Gut Microbiota Axis in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of Recent Evidence

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Although gut microbiota have been associated with the etiology of some diseases, the influence of foods on gut microbiota, especially among pregnant women, remains unclear. Hence, a systematic review was performed to investigate the association between diet and gut microbiota and their influence on metabolic health in pregnant women.

RECENT FINDINGS

We performed the systematic review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 protocol to investigate the association between diet and gut microbiota and their influence on metabolic role in pregnant women. Five databases were searched for relevant peer-reviewed articles published in English since 2011. Two-staged screening of 659 retrieved records resulted in the inclusion of 10 studies. The collated findings suggested associations between nutrient intakes and four key microbes: Collinsella, Lachnospira, Sutterella, Faecalibacterium, and the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio in pregnant women. Dietary intakes in pregnancy were found to modify the gut microbiota and positively influence the cell metabolism in pregnant women. This review, however, emphasizes the importance of conducting well-designed prospective cohorts to investigate the role of changes in dietary intakes within the pregnancy and the influence of such changes on gut microbiota.

Gut Microbiota Patterns Predicting Long-Term Weight Loss Success in Individuals with Obesity Undergoing Nonsurgical Therapy

Background: The long-term success of nonsurgical weight reduction programs is variable; thus, predictors of outcome are of major interest. We hypothesized that the intestinal microbiota known to be linked with diet and obesity contain such predictive elements. Methods: Metagenome analysis by shotgun sequencing of stool DNA was performed in a cohort of 15 adults with obesity (mean body mass index 43.1 kg/m²) who underwent a one-year multidisciplinary weight loss program and another year of follow-up. Eight individuals were persistently successful (mean relative weight loss 18.2%), and seven individuals were not successful (0.2%). The relationship between relative abundancies of bacterial genera/species and changes in relative weight loss or body mass index was studied using three different statistical modeling methods. Results: When combining the predictor variables selected by the applied statistical modeling, we identified seven bacterial genera and eight bacterial species as candidates for predicting success of weight loss. By classification of relative weight-loss predictions for each patient using 2–5 term models, 13 or 14 out of 15 individuals were predicted correctly. Conclusions: Our data strongly suggest that gut microbiota patterns allow individual prediction of long-term weight loss success. Prediction accuracy seems to be high but needs confirmation by larger prospective trials.

Microbiota Composition and Diversity in Weight Loss Population After the Intake of IQP-AE-103 in a Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study

The effect of the novel IQP-AE-103 (proprietary combination of dehydrated okra powder and inulin) on body weight reduction and the association with changes in microbiota composition were investigated in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. A total of seventy-two overweight or moderately obese subjects with a body mass index of ≥25 and <35 kg/m² were randomly allocated to receive IQP-AE-103 or placebo; each group received two IQP-AE-103 or placebo capsules three times daily, respectively. Body weight, body fat, waist circumference, and hip circumference were measured, and fecal samples were collected at baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing on the fecal samples, the microbiota dissimilarity, diversity, and differences in relative abundance between or within groups were analyzed. At the end of the study, body weight was significantly reduced in the IQP-AE-103 group compared with the placebo group, 5.16 ± 2.39 kg vs. 0.97 ± 2.09 kg (p < 0.001). Subjects from the IQP-AE-103 group who achieved a reduction of ≥5% of total body weight from baseline (hereafter referred to as 5% responders or IQP5) had a mean body weight reduction of 6.74 ± 1.94 kg, significantly greater than the placebo group (p < 0.001). Using Lefse and statistical analysis, subjects in the IQP-AE-103 group had a significantly lower relative abundance of Firmicutes than the placebo group (p < 0.05) after 12 weeks of intervention. The 5% responders from the IQP-AE-103 group had a remarkable 4.6-fold higher relative abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila than the placebo group (p < 0.05). As the significant differences between groups were only observed post-intervention, the overall differences in microbiota profile suggest that the weight loss in overweight and moderately obese subjects who consumed IQP-AE-103 for 12 weeks is accompanied by a positive change in microbiota composition. These changes might be linked to the beneficial effects of microbiome modulations in alleviating obesity and metabolic syndrome. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to report over-the-counter (OTC) supplementation that results in both significant changes in weight and favorable shifts on the subject microbiota profile. The trial is registered under ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier no. NCT03058367.

Effects of Milkfat on the Gut Microbiome of Patients After Bariatric Surgery, a Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

The efficacy of bariatric surgery may be in part attributed to altered metabolism via new gut microbiome. Milkfat may promote the growth of microbes that are beneficial in long-term weight loss. Understanding the specific gut microbiome changes after surgery and their relationship to milkfat consumption may yield important strategies for managing obesity after bariatric procedures.

METHODS

In this pilot study, stool samples were collected from nine patients before and at the time of surgery, and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-surgery. At each time-point, dairy consumption was determined from dietary surveys. 16 s rRNA gene sequencing was performed followed by alpha diversity analysis. Comparisons of relative abundances of microbial taxa and analyses of fatty acids changes were performed.

RESULTS

Bariatric surgery led to enrichment of (i) Roseburia, associated with weight loss and (ii) Christensenellaceae, inversely related to body mass index. High milk-fat consumption correlated with enrichment of Blautia, inversely associated with visceral fat accumulation. Faecalibacterium, possibly associated with obesity, increased in patients with low milk-fat consumption. Butter was associated with decreased alpha diversity in all subjects (p-value = 0.038) and the frequency of its use was associated with decreased alpha diversity in patients (correlation =  - 0.68, p-value = 0.042). Low-milk-fat consumers showed higher concentration of saturated fatty acids.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that incorporating dairy products in post-bariatric-surgery dietary plans may help cultivate a gut microbiome that is effective in regulating fat storage as well as digesting beneficial metabolites. These observations will be helpful for the management of obesity in general population as well.

Human gut-microbiome interplay: Analysis of clinical studies for the emerging roles of diagnostic microbiology in inflammation, oncogenesis and cancer management

Microorganisms have been known to coexist in various parts of human body including the gut. The interactions between microbes and the surrounding tissues of the host are critical for fine fettle of the gut. The incidence of such microorganisms tends to vary among specific type of cancer affected individuals. Such microbial communities of specific tumor sites in cancer affected individuals could plausibly be used as prognostic and/or diagnostic markers for tumors associated with that specific site. Microorganisms of intestinal and non-intestinal origins including Helicobacter pylori can target several organs, act as carcinogens and promote cancer. It is interesting to note that diets causing inflammation can also increase the cancer risk. Yet, dietary supplementation with prebiotics and probiotics can reduce the incidence of cancer. Therefore, both diet and microbial community of the gut have dual roles of prevention and oncogenesis. Hence, this review intends to summarize certain important details related to gut microbiome and cancer.

Commensal Obligate Anaerobic Bacteria and Health: Production, Storage, and Delivery Strategies

In the last years several human commensals have emerged from the gut microbiota studies as potential probiotics or therapeutic agents. Strains of human gut inhabitants such as Akkermansia, Bacteroides, or Faecalibacterium have shown several interesting bioactivities and are thus currently being considered as food supplements or as live biotherapeutics, as is already the case with other human commensals such as bifidobacteria. The large-scale use of these bacteria will pose many challenges and drawbacks mainly because they are quite sensitive to oxygen and/or very difficult to cultivate. This review highlights the properties of some of the most promising human commensals bacteria and summarizes the most up-to-date knowledge on their potential health effects. A comprehensive outlook on the potential strategies currently employed and/or available to produce, stabilize, and deliver these microorganisms is also presented.

Akkermansia muciniphila abundance is lower in severe obesity, but its increased level after bariatric surgery is not associated with metabolic health improvement

The gut bacterial species Akkermansia muciniphila is associated with a healthier clinical profile. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between A. muciniphila and glucose homeostasis in patients undergoing bariatric surgery (BS): gastric banding (GB) or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). This nonrandomized prospective study included 65 women with severe obesity. Longitudinal analysis included subjects for whom A. muciniphila data were available at follow-up [1, 3, and 12 mo; GB (n = 10) or RYGB (n = 11)]. Glucose homeostasis markers were measured under fasting conditions (glucose, insulin, and HbA1c) or during an oral glucose tolerance test. Fecal microbiota was analyzed using shotgun metagenomics, and A. muciniphila relative abundance was assessed with 16S rRNA quantitative PCR. A. muciniphila relative abundance was significantly lower in severe obesity [mean body mass index, 45.7 kg/m² (SD 5.4)] than in moderate obesity [33.2 kg/m² (SD 3.8)] but not associated with glucose homeostasis markers. A significant increase in A. muciniphila relative abundance after RYGB was not correlated with metabolic improvement. Baseline A. muciniphila abundance was correlated with bacterial gene richness and was highest in the high-richness Ruminococcaceae enterotype. A. muciniphila increased in relative abundance after BS in patients with low baseline A. muciniphila abundance, especially those with a Bacteroides type 2 enterotype classification. Although decreased in severe obesity, relative abundance of A. muciniphila was not associated with glucose homeostasis before or after BS. A certain level of A. muciniphila abundance might be required to observe a beneficial link to health. The severity of obesity and gut dysbiosis may partly explain the discrepancy with previous findings in less obese populations.

Utilizing the fecal microbiota to understand foal gut transitions from birth to weaning

A healthy gastrointestinal (GI) tract with a properly established microbiota is necessary for a foal to develop into a healthy weanling. A foal's health can be critically impacted by aberrations in the microbiome such as with diarrhea which can cause great morbidity and mortality in foals. In this study, we hypothesized that gut establishment in the foal transitioning from a diet of milk to a diet of grain, forage, and pasture would be detectable through analyses of the fecal microbiotas. Fecal samples from 37 sets of foals and mares were collected at multiple time points ranging from birth to weaning. Bacterial DNA was isolated from the samples, and the V4 domain of bacterial 16S rRNA genes were amplified via polymerase chain reaction. Next generation sequencing was then performed on the resulting amplicons, and analyses were performed to characterize the microbiome as well as the relative abundance of microbiota present. We found that bacterial population compositions followed a pattern throughout the early life of the foal in an age-dependent manner. As foals transitioned from milk consumption to a forage and grain diet, there were recognizable changes in fecal microbial compositions from initial populations predominant in the ability to metabolize milk to populations capable of utilizing fibrous plant material. We were also able to recognize differences in microbial populations amongst diarrheic foals as well as microbial population differences associated with differences in management styles between facilities. Future efforts will gauge the effects of lesser abundant bacterial populations that could also be essential to GI health, as well as to determine how associations between microbial population profiles and animal management practices can be used to inform strategies for improving upon the health and growth of horses overall.

A Data Integration Multi-Omics Approach to Study Calorie Restriction-Induced Changes in Insulin Sensitivity

Background: The mechanisms responsible for calorie restriction (CR)-induced improvement in insulin sensitivity (IS) have not been fully elucidated. Greater insight can be achieved through deep biological phenotyping of subjects undergoing CR, and integration of big data. Materials and Methods: An integrative approach was applied to investigate associations between change in IS and factors from host, microbiota, and lifestyle after a 6-week CR period in 27 overweight or obese adults (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01314690). Partial least squares regression was used to determine associations of change (week 6 - baseline) between IS markers and lifestyle factors (diet and physical activity), subcutaneous adipose tissue (sAT) gene expression, metabolomics of serum, urine and feces, and gut microbiota composition. ScaleNet, a network learning approach based on spectral consensus strategy (SCS, developed by us) was used for reconstruction of biological networks. Results: A spectrum of variables from lifestyle factors (10 nutrients), gut microbiota (10 metagenomics species), and host multi-omics (metabolic features: 84 from serum, 73 from urine, and 131 from feces; and 257 sAT gene probes) most associated with IS were identified. Biological network reconstruction using SCS, highlighted links between changes in IS, serum branched chain amino acids, sAT genes involved in endoplasmic reticulum stress and ubiquitination, and gut metagenomic species (MGS). Linear regression analysis to model how changes of select variables over the CR period contribute to changes in IS, showed greatest contributions from gut MGS and fiber intake. Conclusion: This work has enhanced previous knowledge on links between host glucose homeostasis, lifestyle factors and the gut microbiota, and has identified potential biomarkers that may be used in future studies to predict and improve individual response to weight-loss interventions. Furthermore, this is the first study showing integration of the wide range of data presented herein, identifying 115 variables of interest with respect to IS from the initial input, consisting of 9,986 variables. Clinical Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01314690).

Changes of gut microbiota between different weight reduction programs

BACKGROUND

Gut microbiota may induce obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Different weight reduction programs may induce different changes in gut microbiota.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the changes in gut microbiota between obese adults who participated in 2 different weight reduction programs, the dietary counseling (DC) group and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) group, for 3 months.

SETTING

A University Hospital.

METHODS

Ten obese participants from each group were matched according to sex, age, and body mass index. Gut microbiota compositions were determined by metagenomics using next-generation sequencing before and after treatment. Anthropometric indices, metabolic factors, and gut microbiota were compared between and within groups.

RESULTS

After 3 months of treatment, compared with subjects in DC group, subjects in SG group experienced a greater reduction in body weight, body mass index, body fat, waist and hip circumference, diastolic blood pressure, hemoglobin, insulin, insulin resistance, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, blood urine nitrogen, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C). A total of 8, 17, and 46 species experienced significant abundance changes in DC, in SG, and between the 2 groups, respectively. Diversity of the gut flora increased in SG and between the 2 groups after treatment. The weight change over the course of the weight loss program was further adjusted and only 4 species, including Peptoniphilus lacrimalis 315 B, Selenomonas 4 sp., Prevotella 2 sp., and Pseudobutyrivibrio sp., were found to be significantly different between the 2 weight loss programs. These 4 species may be the different gut microbiota change between internal and surgical weight reduction programs.

CONCLUSIONS

There are significant differences not only in anthropometric indices and metabolic factors but also in gut microbiota change between the 2 programs.

Effects of exercise and dietary protein sources on adiposity and insulin sensitivity in obese mice

Low-fat diets and exercise are generally assumed to ameliorate obesity-related metabolic dysfunctions, but the importance of exercise vs. dietary changes is debated. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat/high-sucrose (HF/HS) diet to induce obesity and then either maintained on the HF/HS or shifted to low-fat (LF) diets containing either salmon or entrecote. For each diet, half of the animals exercised voluntarily for 8 weeks. We determined body composition, glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity and hepatic triacylglycerol levels. The microbiota composition in cecal and fecal samples was analyzed using 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing. Voluntary exercise improved insulin sensitivity but did not improve glucose tolerance. Voluntary exercise did not reduce adiposity in mice maintained on an HF/HS diet but enhanced LF-induced reduction in adiposity. Hepatic triacylglycerol levels were reduced by voluntary exercise in LF- but not HF/HS-fed mice. Voluntary exercise induced shifts in the cecal and fecal microbiota composition and functional potential in mice fed LF or HF/HS diets. Whereas voluntary exercise improved insulin sensitivity, a switch to an LF diet was the most important factor related to body weight and fat mass reduction.

Gut microbiome approaches to treat obesity in humans

The rising worldwide prevalence of obesity has become a major concern having many implications for the public health and the economy. It is well known that many factors such as lifestyle, increased intake of foods high in fat and sugar and a host's genetic profile can lead to obesity. Besides these factors, recent studies have pointed to the gut microbiota composition as being responsible for the development of obesity. Since then, many efforts have been made to understand the link between the gut microbiota composition and obesity, as well as the role of food ingredients, such as pro- and prebiotics, in the modulation of the gut microbiota. Studies involving the gut microbiota composition of obese individuals are however still controversial, making it difficult to treat obesity. In this sense, this mini-review deals with obesity and the relationship with gut microbiota, summarising the principal findings on gut microbiome approaches for treating obesity in humans.

Assessing the in vivo data on low/no-calorie sweeteners and the gut microbiota

Low/no-calorie sweeteners (LNCS) are continually under the spotlight in terms of their safety and benefits; in 2014 a study was published linking LNCS to an enhanced risk of glucose intolerance through modulation of the gut microbiota. In response, an in-depth review of the literature was undertaken to evaluate the major contributors to potential changes in the gut microbiota and their corresponding sequelae, and to determine if consuming LNCS (e.g., acesulfame K, aspartame, cyclamate, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, steviol glycosides) contributes to changes in the microbiome based on the data reported in human and animal studies. A few rodent studies with saccharin have reported changes in the gut microbiome, but primarily at high doses that bear no relevance to human consumption. This and other studies suggesting an effect of LNCS on the gut microbiota were found to show no evidence of an actual adverse effect on human health. The sum of the data provides clear evidence that changes in the diet unrelated to LNCS consumption are likely the major determinants of change in gut microbiota numbers and phyla, confirming the viewpoint supported by all the major international food safety and health regulatory authorities that LNCS are safe at currently approved levels.

Changes in the gut microbiota composition during pregnancy in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a common pregnancy complication, is associated with an increased risk of maternal/perinatal outcomes. We performed a prospective observational explorative study in 41 GDM patients to evaluate their microbiota changes during pregnancy and the associations between the gut microbiota and variations in nutrient intakes, anthropometric and laboratory variables. GDM patients routinely received nutritional recommendations according to guidelines. The fecal microbiota (by 16S amplicon-based sequencing), was assessed at enrolment (24-28 weeks) and at 38 weeks of gestational age. At the study end, the microbiota α-diversity significantly increased (P < 0.001), with increase of Firmicutes and reduction of Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria. Patients who were adherent to the dietary recommendations showed a better metabolic and inflammatory pattern at the study-end and a significant decrease in Bacteroides. In multiple regression models, Faecalibacterium was significantly associated with fasting glucose; Collinsella (directly) and Blautia (inversely) with insulin, and with Homeostasis-Model Assessment Insulin-Resistance, while Sutterella with C-reactive protein levels. Consistent with this latter association, the predicted metagenomes showed a correlation between those taxa and inferred KEGG genes associated with lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis. A higher bacterial richness and strong correlations between pro-inflammatory taxa and metabolic/inflammatory variables were detected in GDM patients across pregnancy. Collectively these findings suggest that the development of strategies to modulate the gut microbiota might be a potentially useful tool to impact on maternal metabolic health.

Elevated circulating levels of succinate in human obesity are linked to specific gut microbiota

Gut microbiota-related metabolites are potential clinical biomarkers for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Circulating succinate, a metabolite produced by both microbiota and the host, is increased in hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. We aimed to analyze systemic levels of succinate in obesity, a major risk factor for CVD, and its relationship with gut microbiome. We explored the association of circulating succinate with specific metagenomic signatures in cross-sectional and prospective cohorts of Caucasian Spanish subjects. Obesity was associated with elevated levels of circulating succinate concomitant with impaired glucose metabolism. This increase was associated with specific changes in gut microbiota related to succinate metabolism: a higher relative abundance of succinate-producing Prevotellaceae (P) and Veillonellaceae (V), and a lower relative abundance of succinate-consuming Odoribacteraceae (O) and Clostridaceae (C) in obese individuals, with the (P + V/O + C) ratio being a main determinant of plasma succinate. Weight loss intervention decreased (P + V/O + C) ratio coincident with the reduction in circulating succinate. In the spontaneous evolution after good dietary advice, alterations in circulating succinate levels were linked to specific metagenomic signatures associated with carbohydrate metabolism and energy production with independence of body weight change. Our data support the importance of microbe-microbe interactions for the metabolite signature of gut microbiome and uncover succinate as a potential microbiota-derived metabolite related to CVD risk.

Gut microbiota and obesity: Concepts relevant to clinical care

The composition and function of gut microbiota play a role in obesity and metabolic disease, yet the mechanisms have not been fully described. As new discoveries and advances in the field have occurred, the relevance of gut microbiota in clinical care has become more substantial. There is promising potential for manipulation of the gut microbiota as treatment of obesity and associated health complications, both as a standalone therapy and as part of interventions such as weight loss. In this review we have compiled knowledge and concepts that are important in the consideration of gut microbiota for clinical care.

Body size phenotypes comprehensively assess cardiometabolic risk and refine the association between obesity and gut microbiota

OBJECTIVE

The gut microbiota associates with obesity and related disorders, but recent meta-analyses have found that this association is, at best, of small effect. We argue that such analyses are flawed by the use of body mass index (BMI) as sole proxy for disease, and explore a classification method that distinguishes the cardiometabolic health status of individuals to look for more comprehensive associations between gut microbes and health.

DESIGN

We analyzed a 441 community-dwelling cohort on which we obtained demographic and health information, anthropometry and blood biochemistry data that served to categorize participants according to BMI, cardiometabolic health status and body size phenotypes. In addition, the participants donated fecal samples from which we performed 16S rRNA gene sequencing to analyze the gut microbiota.

RESULTS

We observed that health-related variables deteriorate with increased BMI, and that there are further discrepancies within a given BMI category when distinguishing cardiometabolically healthy and unhealthy individuals. Regarding the gut microbiota, both obesity and cardiovascular disease associate with reductions in α-diversity; having lean, healthy individuals the most diverse microbiotas. Moreover, the association between the gut microbiota and health stems from particular consortia of microbes; the prevalence of consortia involving pathobionts and Lachnospiraceae are increased in obese and cardiometabolically abnormal subjects, whereas consortia including Akkermansia muciniphila and Methanobrevibacter, Oscillospira and Dialister have higher prevalence in cardiometabolically healthy and normoweight participants.

CONCLUSIONS

The incorporation of cardiometabolic data allows a refined identification of dissimilarities in the gut microbiota; within a given BMI category, marker taxa associated with obesity and cardiometabolic disease are exacerbated in individuals with abnormal health status. Our results highlight the importance of the detailed assessment and classification of individuals that should be carried out prior to the evaluation of obesity treatments targeting the gut microbiota.

Lactobacillus fermentum CRL1446 Ameliorates Oxidative and Metabolic Parameters by Increasing Intestinal Feruloyl Esterase Activity and Modulating Microbiota in Caloric-Restricted Mice

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the administration of the feruloyl esterase (FE)-producing strain Lactobacillus fermentum CRL1446 enhances metabolic and oxidative parameters in caloric-restricted (CR) mice. Balb/c male mice were divided into ad libitum fed Group (ALF Group), CR diet Group (CR Group) and CR diet plus L. fermentum Group (CR-Lf Group). CR diet was administered during 45 days and CRL1446 strain was given in the dose of 10⁸ cells/mL/day/mouse. FE activity was determined in intestinal mucosa and content at Day 1, 20 and 45. Triglyceride, total cholesterol, glucose, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels and glutathione reductase activity were determined in plasma. Gut microbiota was evaluated by high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons. At Day 45, total intestinal FE activity in CR-Lf Group was higher (p = 0.020) than in CR and ALF groups and an improvement in both metabolic (reductions in triglyceride (p = 0.0025), total cholesterol (p = 0.005) and glucose (p < 0.0001) levels) and oxidative (decrease of TBARS levels and increase of plasmatic glutathione reductase activity (p = 0.006)) parameters was observed, compared to ALF Group. CR diet increased abundance of Bacteroidetes and CRL1446 administration increased abundance of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus genus. L. fermentun CRL1446 exerted a bifidogenic effect under CR conditions.