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Gut Microbial Carbohydrate Metabolism Hinders Weight Loss in Overweight Adults Undergoing Lifestyle Intervention With a Volumetric Diet.
Muñiz Pedrogo, DA, Jensen, MD, Van Dyke, CT, Murray, JA, Woods, JA, Chen, J, Kashyap, PC, Nehra, V
Mayo Clinic proceedings. 2018;93(8):1104-1110
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Recent research suggests that the human gut microbiome has a role to play in the development and maintenance of obesity, by influencing metabolism, fat deposition, brain-hormone signalling and insulin sensitivity. This pilot study of 26 participants, aimed to assess whether the composition and functional aspects of the gut microbiome influence outcomes of a comprehensive weight loss programme in overweight and obese individuals in America. A success criteria of 5% weight loss over a 3 month period was established. Comparisons in the gut microbiome using fecal samples at baseline and at 3 months were made between those successfully achieving the weight loss with those that did not. Achieving the weight loss success criteria was positively associated with the presence of Phascolarctobacterium. In contrast, an increased abundance of Dialister and of genes encoding gut microbial carbohydrate-active enzymes was positively associated with a failure to lose 5% of baseline body weight after 3 months. Interestingly, Phascolarctobacterium and Dialister both belong to the same bacterial family, which suggests that a compositional shift in this family may be responsible for host carbohydrate metabolism and obesity outcomes. This study highlights the potential of influencing the gut microbiome as part of an individualised obesity management programme. However the findings need to be confirmed in a larger, cohort study over a longer duration.
Abstract
The rising incidence of obesity requires the reevaluation of our current therapeutic strategies to optimize patient outcomes. The objective of this study was to determine whether compositional and functional characteristics of the gut microbiota in adults predict responses to a comprehensive lifestyle intervention program in overweight and obese adults. We recruited 26 participants from the Mayo Clinic Obesity Treatment Research Program between August 6, 2013, and September 12, 2013, to participate in a lifestyle intervention program for weight loss. Adults aged 18 to 65 years with a body mass index of 27 to 39.9 kg/m2 and able to provide informed consent were included in the study. Fecal stool samples were obtained at baseline and after 3 months. Loss of at least 5% of baseline weight after 3 months was defined as success. Clinical characteristics and gut microbial composition and function were compared between those who achieved at least 5% and those who achieved less than 5% weight loss. After 3 months, 9 of 26 participants lost at least 5% of their weight. The mean weight loss was 7.89 kg (95% CI, 6.46-9.32 kg) in the success group and 1.51 kg (95% CI, 0.52-2.49 kg) in the less than 5% weight loss group. An increased abundance of Phascolarctobacterium was associated with success. In contrast, an increased abundance of Dialister and of genes encoding gut microbial carbohydrate-active enzymes was associated with failure to lose 5% body weight. A gut microbiota with increased capability for carbohydrate metabolism appears to be associated with decreased weight loss in overweight and obese patients undergoing a lifestyle intervention program.
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Physical exercise, gut, gut microbiota, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases.
Chen, J, Guo, Y, Gui, Y, Xu, D
Lipids in health and disease. 2018;17(1):17
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Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), such as heart attacks and strokes, are the leading cause for mortality worldwide. Many studies have shown beneficial effects of physical exercise on cardiovascular risk factors, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, abdominal obesity and diabetes. However, some of the mechanisms, by which these beneficial effects occur, are not well understood. It is believed that gut microbiota, affected by physical exercise, altering the intestinal environment, plays a role. This review paper summarised the current understanding on the effects of physical exercise on CVD, through its effects on the gut microbiota and intestinal function. The authors reviewed animal and human studies looking at how various types of exercise, such as high-intensity interval training (mice), running (rats and mice) and rugby (humans), affect diversity and distribution of microbes, metabolites produced by microbiota, intestinal wall integrity and systemic inflammation. Based on the reviewed papers, the authors concluded that, although further research is warranted, many studies confirm the premise that physical exercise can prevent CVD through modifying gut microbiota and alleviating systemic inflammation.
Abstract
Arteriosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVDs) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and its risk can be independently decreased by regular physical activity. Recently, ASCVD and its risk factors were found to be impacted by the gut microbiota through its diversity, distribution and metabolites. Meanwhile, several experiments demonstrated the relationship between physical exercise and diversity, distribution, metabolite of the gut microbiota as well as its functions on the lipid metabolism and chronic systematic inflammation. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the effects of physical exercise on ASCVD through modulation of the gut microbiota and intestinal function.
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Gut microbiota dysbiosis contributes to the development of hypertension.
Li, J, Zhao, F, Wang, Y, Chen, J, Tao, J, Tian, G, Wu, S, Liu, W, Cui, Q, Geng, B, et al
Microbiome. 2017;5(1):14
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There have been limited studies linking gut microbes as a therapeutic approach for the treatment of hypertension(HTN) which is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. The aim of this study is to identify whether gut microbial changes leading to gut dysbiosis are associated with HTN. The study method was based on analyses of the total bacterial genetic material of stool samples from a cohort of 196 Chinese individuals. The results demonstrated that decreased diversity and variation in the gut bacterial population were associated with both prehypertension and HTN. Henceforth the authors concluded that status of gut microbiota seems to be directly linked indicating functional dysbiosis may contribute to HTN, but of course, further studies are needed before establishing a causal relationship.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recently, the potential role of gut microbiome in metabolic diseases has been revealed, especially in cardiovascular diseases. Hypertension is one of the most prevalent cardiovascular diseases worldwide, yet whether gut microbiota dysbiosis participates in the development of hypertension remains largely unknown. To investigate this issue, we carried out comprehensive metagenomic and metabolomic analyses in a cohort of 41 healthy controls, 56 subjects with pre-hypertension, 99 individuals with primary hypertension, and performed fecal microbiota transplantation from patients to germ-free mice. RESULTS Compared to the healthy controls, we found dramatically decreased microbial richness and diversity, Prevotella-dominated gut enterotype, distinct metagenomic composition with reduced bacteria associated with healthy status and overgrowth of bacteria such as Prevotella and Klebsiella, and disease-linked microbial function in both pre-hypertensive and hypertensive populations. Unexpectedly, the microbiome characteristic in pre-hypertension group was quite similar to that in hypertension. The metabolism changes of host with pre-hypertension or hypertension were identified to be closely linked to gut microbiome dysbiosis. And a disease classifier based on microbiota and metabolites was constructed to discriminate pre-hypertensive and hypertensive individuals from controls accurately. Furthermore, by fecal transplantation from hypertensive human donors to germ-free mice, elevated blood pressure was observed to be transferrable through microbiota, and the direct influence of gut microbiota on blood pressure of the host was demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our results describe a novel causal role of aberrant gut microbiota in contributing to the pathogenesis of hypertension. And the significance of early intervention for pre-hypertension was emphasized.