Gut Microbiota Profile and Its Association with Clinical Variables and Dietary Intake in Overweight/Obese and Lean Subjects: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

We aimed to differentiate gut microbiota composition of overweight/obese and lean subjects and to determine its association with clinical variables and dietary intake. A cross-sectional study was performed with 96 overweight/obese subjects and 32 lean subjects. Anthropometric parameters were positively associated with Collinsella aerofaciens, Dorea formicigenerans and Dorea longicatena, which had higher abundance the overweight/obese subjects. Moreover, different genera of Lachnospiraceae were negatively associated with body fat, LDL and total cholesterol. Saturated fatty acids (SFAs) were negatively associated with the genus Intestinimonas, a biomarker of the overweight/obese group, whereas SFAs were positively associated with Roseburia, a biomarker for the lean group. In conclusion, Dorea formicigenerans, Dorea longicatena and Collinsella aerofaciens could be considered obesity biomarkers, Lachnospiraceae is associated with lipid cardiovascular risk factors. SFAs exhibited opposite association profiles with butyrate-producing bacteria depending on the BMI. Thus, the relationship between diet and microbiota opens new tools for the management of obesity.

Keywords: dietary intake; gut microbiota; obesity; saturated fatty acids.

Figure 1

(a) Taxonomic composition at the genus level found for each group. The X-axis represents the group (overweight/obese and lean groups), and the y-axis represents the relative abundance assigned to each genus. (b) Differences in diversity (Shannon index) between the obese and lean groups. (c) Differences in richness (Chao 1 richness estimator) between the overweight/obese and lean groups. (d) Difference in the distribution and variability of the microbiota structure determined by principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) based on the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity index.

Figure 1

(a) Taxonomic composition at the genus level found for each group. The X-axis represents the group (overweight/obese and lean groups), and the y-axis represents the relative abundance assigned to each genus. (b) Differences in diversity (Shannon index) between the obese and lean groups. (c) Differences in richness (Chao 1 richness estimator) between the overweight/obese and lean groups. (d) Difference in the distribution and variability of the microbiota structure determined by principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) based on the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity index.

Figure 2

LEfSe analysis between the overweight/obese (green) and lean (red) groups (LDA score > 3.0). The LDA score (log10) for the most prevalent ASV in the overweight/obese group is represented on a positive scale and the LDA score for the most prevalent ASV in the lean group is represented on a negative scale.

Figure 3

Relevant associations at the ASV level detected by sPLS. (a) Relevant correlations for anthropometric variables and the lipid profile with the ASVs showing the greatest difference between the overweight/obese and lean groups. (b) Relevant associations between dietary intake variables and the ASVs showing the greatest difference between the overweight/obese and lean groups. Green bubbles show ASVs biomarkers that were significantly increased in the overweight/obese group, and red bubbles show ASVs biomarkers that were significantly increased in the lean group; According to Color key code, the positive and negative associations were related with line colors: purple, red, orange and yellow colors indicated positive associations (from more to less correlation index); blue and green colors indicated negative associations (from more to less correlation index).