Gut microbiome composition in lean patients with NASH is associated with liver damage independent of caloric intake: A prospective pilot study

S. M.B. Duarte, J. T. Stefano, Luca Miele, Francesca Romana Ponziani, M. Souza-Basqueira, L. S.R.R. Okada, F. G. De Barros Costa, K. Toda, D. F.C. Mazo, E. C. Sabino, F. J. Carrilho, Antonio Gasbarrini, C. P. Oliveira

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

44 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background and Aim: The aim of the study was to compare the gut microbiomes from obese and lean patients with or without NASH to outline phenotypic differences. Methods and Results: We performed a cross-sectional pilot study comprising biopsy-proven NASH patients grouped according to BMI. Microbiome DNA was extracted from stool samples, and PCR amplification was performed using primers for the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. The amplicons were sequenced using the Ion PGM Torrent platform, and data were analyzed using QIIME software. Macronutrient consumption was analyzed by a 7-day food record. Liver fibrosis ≥ F2 was associated with increased abundance of Lactobacilli (p = 0.0007). NASH patients showed differences in Faecalibacterium, Ruminococcus, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium abundance compared with the control group. Lean NASH patients had a 3-fold lower abundance of Faecalibacterium and Ruminococcus (p = 0.004), obese NASH patients were enriched in Lactobacilli (p = 0.002), and overweight NASH patients had reduced Bifidobacterium (p = 0.018). Moreover, lean NASH patients showed a deficiency in Lactobacillus compared with overweight and obese NASH patients. This group also appeared similar to the control group with regard to gut microbiome alpha diversity. Although there were qualitative differences between lean NASH and overweight/obese NASH, they were not statistically significant (p = 0.618). The study limitations included a small sample size, a food questionnaire that collected only qualitative and semi-quantitative data, and variations in group gender composition that may influence differences in FXR signaling, bile acids metabolism and the composition of gut microbiota. Conclusion: Our preliminary finding of a different pathogenetic process in lean NASH patients needs to be confirmed by larger studies, including those with patient populations stratified by sex and dietary habits.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)369-384
Number of pages16
JournalNMCD. NUTRITION METABOLISM AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
Volume28
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Bacteria
  • Biopsy
  • Body Mass Index
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Dysbiosis
  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Energy Intake
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome
  • Gut microbiome
  • Humans
  • Lean
  • Liver
  • Liver Cirrhosis
  • Male
  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Middle Aged
  • NASH
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
  • Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Obese
  • Obesity
  • Overweight
  • Pilot Projects
  • Preliminary Data
  • Prospective Studies
  • Ribotyping
  • Risk Factors
  • Young Adult

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