Metabolomic Signatures Highlight Fiber-Degrading Bacteroides Species in Mediterranean Diet Response Among Ulcerative Colitis.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine the impact of the Mediterranean diet pattern (MDP), rich in fiber, on the fecal metabolome and microbiota in patients with quiescent ulcerative colitis (UC).
Results Summary
The study found that high adherence to the MDP led to beneficial metabolite changes linked to reduced inflammation in UC, with fiber-degrading microbes like Bacteroides species playing a key role in dietary responsiveness.
Population
Adult patients with quiescent ulcerative colitis (n=16, split into MDP and CHD groups).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
12 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mediterranean diet pattern (MDP) | neutral | health-associated gut microbes and metabolites | - | - | is associated with | #1 |
Mediterranean diet pattern (MDP) | increase | 35 fecal metabolites | patients with quiescent UC | 35 | exhibited significant differential expression | #2 |
Mediterranean diet pattern (MDP) | neutral | folate biosynthesis, sphingolipid biosynthesis, and steroid biosynthesis pathways | patients with quiescent UC | - | affected | #3 |
Mediterranean diet pattern (MDP) | decrease | beneficial metabolite changes associated with reducing inflammation | patients with UC | - | is associated with | #4 |
Mediterranean diet pattern (MDP) | increase | dietary responsiveness | individuals with increased levels of Bacteroidia (Bacteroides vulgatus, B. uniformis, and B. acidifaciens) at baseline | - | were more likely to respond to | #5 |
fiber-degrading microbes abundant before dietary intervention | neutral | responsiveness to the MDP | - | - | played a role in | #6 |
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The Mediterranean diet pattern (MDP) is associated with health-associated gut microbes and metabolites. However, the impact of the MDP on the fecal metabolome in ulcerative colitis (UC) remains unclear. We characterized the fecal metabolome of patients with UC with high adherence to the MDP compared to the Canadian habitual diet (CHD). Furthermore, we explored potential differences in the fecal metabolome between dietary responders and nonresponders to the MDP. METHODS: Utilizing untargeted metabolomics on a subset of fecal samples obtained from a randomized controlled trial, adult patients with quiescent UC underwent a 12-week intervention following either the MDP (n = 8) or CHD (n = 8). Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was employed to profile endogenous fecal metabolites, while 16S amplicon sequencing was utilized to profile the fecal microbiota. RESULTS: A total of 701 human metabolites were detected, with 35 exhibiting significant differential expression between the MDP and CHD groups. Noteworthy, folate biosynthesis, sphingolipid biosynthesis, and steroid biosynthesis were identified as major pathways affected. Moreover, microbial analysis showed that individuals with increased levels of the class Bacteroidia (Bacteroides vulgatus [B. vulgatus], B. uniformis, and B. acidifaciens) in their stool at baseline were more likely to respond to the MDP. CONCLUSION: High adherence to an MDP is associated with beneficial metabolite changes associated with reducing inflammation in UC. In addition, fiber-degrading microbes abundant before dietary intervention played a role in the responsiveness to the MDP. This work lays the groundwork for developing a metabolic signature associated with the MDP to develop personalized nutrition strategies for UC prevention and treatment. ClinicalTrials.gov Number: NCT03053713.