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. 2011 Jun;7(3):501-7.
doi: 10.5114/aoms.2011.23418. Epub 2011 Jul 11.

Frequency of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in gut microbiota in obese and normal weight Egyptian children and adults

Nagwa Abdallah Ismail  1 , Shadia H Ragab, Abeer Abd Elbaky, Ashraf R S Shoeib, Yasser Alhosary, Dina Fekry
Affiliations

Frequency of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in gut microbiota in obese and normal weight Egyptian children and adults

Nagwa Abdallah Ismail et al. Arch Med Sci. 2011 Jun.

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity and associated metabolic disorders are a worldwide epidemic. Recent evidence suggests that the microbial community in the human intestine may play an important role in the pathogenesis of obesity. The aim of this study was to assess the differences in the composition of the intestinal microbiota between obese and normal weight Egyptian children and adults.

Material and methods: The study included 79 subjects among whom 51 were obese (23 children and 28 adults), and 28 were subjects of normal weight (17 children and 11 adults). Faecal samples were collected from all subjects. Total DNA was extracted from collected stool samples and submitted to conventional PCR for detection of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. All the studied group was subjected to clinical and anthropometric evaluation. Laboratory assessment of fasting glucose, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and lipid profile was performed.

Results: The proportions of the phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were statistically significantly increased in the obese group compared to the normal weight group (p < 0.001, p = 0.003 respectively). The study also found a statistically significant positive trend for higher hsCRP in subjects with positive Firmicutes (p = 0.004). However, no associations were found between positive Bacteroidetes and hsCRP.

Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that obesity in Egyptian children and adults is associated with compositional changes in faecal microbiota with increase in the phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. This could be considered when developing strategies to control obesity and its associated diseases by modifying the gut microbiota.

Keywords: Bacteroidetes; Firmicutes; gut microbiota; high-sensitivity C-reactive protein; obesity.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Results of the PCR product bands for Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes by gel documentation system of some cases
Figure 2
Figure 2
Relation between Firmicutes and Bacteroides and fat or carbohydrates intake
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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