Bile acid dysmetabolism in Bangladeshi infants is associated with poor linear growth, enteric inflammation, and small intestine bacterial overgrowth

Abstract

Introduction: Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is a subclinical condition caused by fecal-oral contamination leading to enteric inflammation and dysbiosis. This study investigates bile acid metabolism in Bangladeshi children with EED and its association with growth impairment.

Methods: We conducted a cross sectional study of 100 Bangladeshi infants (aged 6-9 months) and quantified serum and fecal bile acids using LC-MS/MS. We compared profiles to a control group of 6 American children (6 - 12 months) and 80 older Bangladeshi children (aged 2 years).

Results: Bangladeshi infants had higher levels of plasma unconjugated primary (65.23% vs. 44.25%, p = .003) and sulfated primary bile acids (12.98% vs. <0.001%, p = .01), with lower primary conjugated bile acids (0.69% vs 2.74%, p = <0.001) compared to American children. Stool unconjugated primary bile acids were inversely associated with weight-for-age (regression coefficient [β] = -0.01, p = 0.01) and height-for-age z scores (β = -0.01, p = 0.03). Conjugated secondary bile acids were inversely associated with small intestine bacterial overgrowth (β = -1096.68, p = 0.05). Fecal myeloperoxidase was associated with sulfated secondary bile acids (β = -0.40, p = 0.04). Compared to 2-year-old children, the Bangladeshi infant's serum had higher levels of unconjugated primary bile acids (65.23% vs. 9.20%, p = <0.001) and lower levels of primary conjugated bile acids (0.69% vs 80.38%, p = <0.001).

Discussion: Our data suggests an age-dependent defect in conjugation of primary bile acids in Bangladeshi children with compensatory hydrophilic shunting. Additionally, bile acid profiles are associated with intestinal overgrowth.

Figure 1.

Percent distributions comparing the younger Bangladeshi infants’ serum bile acids and C4 levels to the American children are displayed with mean and standard deviation. Secondary bile acid derivatives include 7-Keto DCA, 7-Keto LCA, 3-Keto LCA, isoDCA, isoLCA, and allo isoLCA. Bangladeshi infants demonstrate a deficiency in primary bile acid conjugation as compared to American children with compensatory increase in hydrophilic primary sulfated bile acids. C4 is also increased.

Figure 2.

Stool and plasma bile acid pools were compared in Bangladeshi 6 – 9 month olds. Plasma distribution is shown as shaded box-and-whisker plots while stool distribution is illustrated with clear box-and-whisker plots. The central line in each box represents the median, while the box spans the interquartile range (IQR). Whiskers extend to 1.5 times the IQR, with individual points representing outliers. There were no significant differences between the groups in regard to bile acid percent distributions.

Figure 3.

Log transformed secondary conjugated bile acid concentrations were plotted against SIBO AUC in the Bangladeshi infants. SIBO is associated with a decrease in secondary conjugated bile acids (β = −1096.68, p = 0.05).

Figure 4.

Log transformed myeloperoxidase were regressed on secondary sulfated bile acid concentrations in the Bangladeshi infants. As MPO increases, there is a decrease in the concentration of secondary sulfated bile acids (β = −0.40, p = 0.04).

Figure 5.

Panel A. Primary unconjugated bile acid concentrations are plotted against WAZ scores in the Bangladeshi infants. There is a significant correlation with drop in WAZ score as primary unconjugated bile acid concentrations increase (β = −0.01, p = 0.01). Panel B. Primary unconjugated bile acid concentrations are plotted against HAZ scores in the Bangladeshi infants. There is a significant correlation with drop in HAZ score as primary unconjugated bile acid concentrations increase (β = −0.01, p = 0.03). Panel C. Log transformed C4 concentrations were regressed on HAZ scores in the Bangladeshi infants. Regression shows that there is an increase in HAZ with increased C4 levels (β = 0.65, p = 0.04).

Figure 6.

Box-and-whiskers plot showing percent distribution of bile acids in plasma between the Bangladeshi infants (aged 6–9 months) and the Bangladeshi children (aged 2 years old). The younger Bangladeshi infants’ distributions are shown in blue and the older Bangladeshi children are shown in orange. The central line in each box represents the median, while the box spans the interquartile range (IQR). Whiskers extend to 1.5 times the IQR, with individual points representing outliers. The younger infants showed higher levels of unconjugated bile acids compared to their older counterparts. * data is significant for difference in bile acid percent distribution between the two groups