Human intestinal microbiota composition is associated with local and systemic inflammation in obesity
Open accessAbstract
OBJECTIVE: Intestinal microbiota have been suggested to contribute to the development of obesity, but the mechanism remains elusive. The relationship between microbiota composition, intestinal permeability, and inflammation in nonobese and obese subjects was investigated. DESIGN AND METHODS: Fecal microbiota composition of 28 subjects (BMI 18.6-60.3 kg m(-2) ) was analyzed by a phylogenetic profiling microarray. Fecal calprotectin and plasma C-reactive protein levels were determined to evaluate intestinal and systemic inflammation. Furthermore, HbA1c , and plasma levels of transaminases and lipids were analyzed. Gastroduodenal, small intestinal, and colonic permeability were assessed by a multisaccharide test. RESULTS: Based on microbiota composition, the study population segregated into two clusters with predominantly obese (15/19) or exclusively nonobese (9/9) subjects. Whereas intestinal permeability did not differ between clusters, the obese cluster showed reduced bacterial diversity, a decreased Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio, and an increased abundance of potential proinflammatory Proteobacteria. Interestingly, fecal calprotectin was only detectable in subjects within the obese microbiota cluster (n = 8/19, P = 0.02). Plasma C-reactive protein was also increased in these subjects (P = 0.0005), and correlated with the Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio (rs = -0.41, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Intestinal microbiota alterations in obese subjects are associated with local and systemic inflammation, suggesting that the obesity-related microbiota composition has a proinflammatory effect.
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Dysbiosis of the Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes ratio heralds a shift in microbiota from obligate anaerobes to nitrate-reducing, facultative anaerobes of the Proteobacteria and Firmicutes phyla.
“Characteristically, dysbiosis of this ratio heralds a shift in microbiota from obligate anaerobes to nitrate-reducing, facultative anaerobes of the Proteobacteria and Firmicutes phyla[333–335].”
From Enterosalivary nitrate metabolism and the microbiome: Intersection of microbial metabolism, nitric oxide and diet in cardiac and pulmonary vascular health (2017) · cites this paper as [335]
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References 40 · Cited by 587
- Authors
- Verdam, F. J., Fuentes, S., de Jonge, C., Zoetendal, E. G., Erbil, R., Greve, J. W., Buurman, W. A., de Vos, W. M., & Rensen, S. S.
- Affiliations
- Maastricht University Medical Centre (NL)
- Wageningen University & Research (NL)
- Department of General Surgery, NUTRIM Maastricht University Medical Center Maastricht The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Microbiology Wageningen University Wageningen The Netherlands
- Corresponding author
- Rensen, Sander S.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Obesity
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2013-06-22
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- E607-15
- ISSN
- 1930-7381 (ISSN-L)
- 1930-739X
- OpenAlex
- W2098163072
- Cited by
- 587
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2026: 22 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 59 · 2023: 60 · 2022: 52 · 2021: 72 · 2020: 59 · 2019: 51 · 2018: 47 · 2017: 41 · 2016: 39 · 2015: 30 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 14.19
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Obesity (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling (acceptedVersion)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
- Transnationale Universiteit Limburg
- SenterNovem
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
- Health Sciences › Dentistry › Periodontics › Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
- Keywords
- gut microbiota, inflammation, intestinal permeability, Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, Proteobacteria, fecal calprotectin, C-reactive protein, bacterial diversity, dysbiosis
- MeSH terms
- Adult, C-Reactive Protein, Feces, Female, Humans, Inflammation, Intestines, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity, Permeability, Body Mass Index, Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis, Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex, Young Adult, Microbiota
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