Cited by 1,222Gut microbiota and healthAdipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic DiseasesOral microbiology and periodontitis research

Human colonic microbiota associated with diet, obesity and weight loss

Duncan, S H, Lobley, G E, Holtrop, G, Ince, J, Johnstone, A M, Louis, P, Flint, H J·2008·International Journal of Obesity

Abstract

Background It has been proposed that the development of obesity in humans is influenced by the relative proportions of the two major phyla of bacteria (Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes) present in the large intestine.Objective To examine the relationships between body mass index, weight loss and the major bacterial groups detected in fecal samples.Design Major groups of fecal bacteria were monitored using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) in obese and non-obese subjects under conditions of weight maintenance, and in obese male volunteers undergoing weight loss on two different reduced carbohydrate weight-loss diets given successively for 4 weeks each.Results We detected no difference between obese and non-obese individuals in the proportion of Bacteroidetes measured in fecal samples, and no significant change in the percentage of Bacteroidetes in feces from obese subjects on weight loss diets. Significant diet-dependent reductions in a group of butyrate-producing Firmicutes were, however, detected in fecal samples from obese subjects on weight loss diets.Conclusions Diets designed to achieve weight loss in obese subjects can significantly alter the species composition of the gut microbiota, but we find no evidence that the proportions of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes among fecal bacteria have a function in human obesity.

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Crossref · 10.1038/ijo.2008.155

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  • Some dietary intervention studies associated weight loss with reduced abundance of short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria.

    “Some dietary intervention studies, paradoxically, associated weight loss with reduced abundance of SCFA-producing bacteria.84, 90–93”
  • Some but not all cross-sectional studies found enrichment of Firmicutes and depletion of Bacteroidetes in obese compared with lean individuals.

    “Some83 but not all81, 84 cross-sectional studies found an enrichment of the phylum Firmicutes and depletion of the phylum Bacteroidetes in obese individuals compared with lean individuals.”
  • Several studies in humans found that the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio is increased in obesity.

    “As reported in mice, several studies in humans found that this ratio is increased in obesity [38, 39].”
  • Previous studies of the gut microbiota during dietary interventions for weight loss have not reported an increase in Proteobacteria but a shift in taxa such as Bacteroidetes, Eubacterium/Roseburia, and Eubacterium rectale.

    “Indeed, previous studies of the gut microbiota during dietary interventions for weight loss have not reported an increase in Proteobacteria but a shift in taxa such as Bacteroidetes (Ley et al., 2006), Eubacterium/Roseburia (Duncan et al., 2008), and Eubacterium rectale (Cotillard et al., 2013).”
  • Based on most human studies, the obesity-associated decrease in the ratio of Bacteroidetes to Firmicutes remains controversial.

    “based on most human studies, the obesity-associated decrease in the ratio of Bacteroidetes to Firmicutes (B:F) remains controversial.24 25”

    From The gut microbiota and host health: a new clinical frontier (2016) · cites this paper as [25]

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Authors
Duncan, S. H., Lobley, G. E., Holtrop, G., Ince, J., Johnstone, A. M., Louis, P., & Flint, H. J.
Affiliations
  • University of Aberdeen (GB)
  • Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland (GB)
Corresponding author
Flint, H J
Venue
International Journal of Obesity
Published
2008-09-09
Volume
32
Issue
11
Pages
1720-1724
ISSN
  • 0307-0565 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-5497
OpenAlex
W2047703946
Cited by
1,222
References
22
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 53 · 2023: 64 · 2022: 92 · 2021: 85 · 2020: 95 · 2019: 76 · 2018: 97 · 2017: 77 · 2016: 97 · 2015: 75 · 2014: 88 · 2013: 79 · 2012: 84
FWCI
16.30
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • International Journal of Obesity (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Scottish Government
  • World Cancer Research Fund
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, obesity, weight loss, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, butyrate-producing bacteria, diet, body mass index, fecal bacteria, colonic microbiota
MeSH terms
Colon, Feces, Humans, Male, Obesity, Weight Loss, Body Mass Index, Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted

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