Obesity-associated gut microbiota is enriched in Lactobacillus reuteri and depleted in Bifidobacterium animalis and Methanobrevibacter smithii

By M. Million, M. Maraninchi, M. Henry, Fabrice Armougom, H. Richet, P. Carrieri, R. Valéro, D. Raccah, B. Vialettes, Didier Raoult. International Journal of Obesity, 2011

647 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Background:Obesity is associated with increased health risk and has been associated with alterations in bacterial gut microbiota, with mainly a reduction in Bacteroidetes, but few data exist at the genus and species level. It has been reported that the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genus representatives may have a critical role in weight regulation as an anti-obesity effect in experimental models and humans, or as a growth-promoter effect in agriculture depending on the strains.Objectives and methods:To confirm reported gut alterations and test whether Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium species found in the human gut are associated with obesity or lean status, we analyzed the stools of 68 obese and 47 controls targeting Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Methanobrevibacter smithii, Lactococcus lactis, Bifidobacterium animalis and seven species of Lactobacillus by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and culture on a Lactobacillus-selective medium.Findings:In qPCR, B. animalis (odds ratio (OR)=0.63; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.39–1.01; P=0.056) and M. smithii (OR=0.76; 95% CI 0.59–0.97; P=0.03) were associated with normal weight whereas Lactobacillus reuteri (OR=1.79; 95% CI 1.03–3.10; P=0.04) was associated with obesity.Conclusion:The gut microbiota associated with human obesity is depleted in M. smithii. Some Bifidobacterium or Lactobacillus species were associated with normal weight (B. animalis) while others (L. reuteri) were associated with obesity. Therefore, gut microbiota composition at the species level is related to body weight and obesity, which might be of relevance for further studies and the management of obesity. These results must be considered cautiously because it is the first study to date that links specific species of Lactobacillus with obesity in humans.

Subfields: Food Science, Gastroenterology, Molecular Biology

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/f8916fd720a69e9e0920fb9c903accbddd8684e6

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Citations in the corpus

• Brain–Gut–Microbe Communication in Health and Disease (2011, background): “…Q-PCR, MALDI-TOF spectral analysis, fecal microbiota Human Bifidobacterium animalis and Methanobrevibacter smithii were associated with normal bodyweight Million et al. (2011) Lactobacillus reuteri was associated with obesity Autism Q-PCR, fecal microbiota Autistic (n = 15), HS (n = 8) ↑…”
• The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes Ratio: A Relevant Marker of Gut Dysbiosis in Obese Patients? (2020, background): “8 ND ≤1 month ND ND ND Gastric bypass, Colon cancer, Inflammatory bowel diseases, Diarrhea qPCR = = ND [73]”
• Effects of Gut Microbes on Nutrient Absorption and Energy Regulation (2012, background): “Bifidobacterium levels in RYGB patients were lower at 6 months than the normal-weight control group,(93) a finding that corresponds well with the lower abundance of Bifidobacterium generally found in obese individuals.(95)”
• The Influence of Probiotics on the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes Ratio in the Treatment of Obesity and Inflammatory Bowel disease (2020, result): “In contrast, Lactobacillus reuteri [50] and some bifidobacteria [51] were associated with increased body weight and obesity.”
• Role of Lactobacillus reuteri in Human Health and Diseases (2018, background): “Among different Lactobacillus spp., L. reuteri was specifically described to be associated with obesity (Million et al., 2012, 2013a).”
• Diet and Feeding Pattern Affect the Diurnal Dynamics of the Gut Microbiome (2014, positive): “The relationship between several Lactobacillus species and obesity, as well as associated metabolic disorders, has been studied extensively (Joyce et al., 2014; Li et al., 2013; Million et al., 2012, 2013; Raman et al., 2013).”