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. 2019 Oct 4;16(19):3751.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph16193751.

The Gut-Microbiome in Gulf War Veterans: A Preliminary Report

Patricia A Janulewicz  1 , Ratanesh K Seth  2 , Jeffrey M Carlson  3 , Joy Ajama  3 , Emily Quinn  4 , Timothy Heeren  5 , Nancy Klimas  6 , Steven M Lasley  7 , Ronnie D Horner  8 , Kimberly Sullivan  3 , Saurabh Chatterjee  2
Affiliations

The Gut-Microbiome in Gulf War Veterans: A Preliminary Report

Patricia A Janulewicz et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic multi-symptom disorder affecting the central nervous system (CNS), immune and gastrointestinal (GI) systems of Gulf War veterans (GWV). We assessed the relationships between GWI, GI symptoms, gut microbiome and inflammatory markers in GWV from the Boston Gulf War Illness Consortium (GWIC). Three groups of GWIC veterans were recruited in this pilot study; GWV without GWI and no gastrointestinal symptoms (controls), GWV with GWI and no gastrointestinal symptoms (GWI-GI), GWV with GWI who reported gastrointestinal symptoms (GW+GI). Here we report on a subset of the first thirteen stool samples analyzed. Results showed significantly different gut microbiome patterns among the three groups and within the GWI +/-GI groups. Specifically, GW controls had a greater abundance of firmicutes and the GWI+GI group had a greater abundance of the phyla bacteroidetes, actinobacteria, euryarchaeota, and proteobacteria as well as higher abundances of the families Bacteroidaceae, Erysipelotrichaceae, and Bifidobacteriaceae. The GWI+GI group also showed greater plasma levels of the inflammatory cytokine TNF-RI and they endorsed significantly more chemical weapons exposure during the war and reported significantly greater chronic pain, fatigue and sleep difficulties than the other groups. Studies with larger samples sizes are needed to confirm these initial findings.

Keywords: Cytokines; Exposure.; Gulf War; Gulf War Illness; Inflammation; Microbiome; Veterans.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Proportional Abundance at the Phylum and Family Level by Group.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Proportional Abundance at the Phylum and Family Level by Group.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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