Obesity-associated gut microbiota is enriched in Lactobacillus reuteri and depleted in Bifidobacterium animalis and Methanobrevibacter smithii - PubMed (original) (raw)

Multicenter Study

doi: 10.1038/ijo.2011.153. Epub 2011 Aug 9.

Affiliations

Free PMC article

Multicenter Study

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

M Million et al. Int J Obes (Lond). 2012 Jun.

Free PMC article

Retraction in

Abstract

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.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1

Quantification of L. paracasei, L. plantarum and L. reuteri in culture (LAMVAB medium) −log (colony forming units per ml of feces)—Mann–Whitney test.

Figure 2

Figure 2

Quantification of Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, M. smithii and Lactobacillus genus by qPCR—Mann–Whitney test.

Figure 3

Figure 3

Quantification of B. animalis, L. casei/paracasei, L. plantarum and L. reuteri by qPCR—Mann–Whitney test.

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Appropriate body-mass index for Asian populations and its implications for policy and intervention strategies. Lancet. 2004;363:157–163. - PubMed
    1. Whitlock G, Lewington S, Sherliker P, Clarke R, Emberson J, Halsey J, et al. Body-mass index and cause-specific mortality in 900 000 adults: collaborative analyses of 57 prospective studies. Lancet. 2009;373:1083–1096. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Yanovski SZ, Yanovski JA. Obesity. N Engl J Med. 2002;346:591–602. - PubMed
    1. Lawlor DA, Smith GD, O'Callaghan M, Alati R, Mamun AA, Williams GM, et al. Epidemiologic evidence for the fetal overnutrition hypothesis: findings from the mater-university study of pregnancy and its outcomes. Am J Epidemiol. 2007;165:418–424. - PubMed
    1. World health organization Obesity and overweightFact sheet N°311.2011

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources