Hongxia Li1, Jianwei Chen1, Xiaojing Ren2, Chuanli Yang2, Shuai Liu1, Xinshu Bai1, Shuhua Shan2, Xiushan Dong1. 1. Department of General Surgery, Bethune Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China. 2. Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of National Ministry of Education, Institute of Biotechnology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.
Abstract
Background: Chronic constipation is one of the most prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorders, yet its etiology is multifactorial, and the pathophysiological mechanism is still unclear. Previous studies have shown that the gut microbiota of constipated patients differs from healthy controls; however, many discrepancies exist in the findings, and no clear link has been confirmed between chronic constipation and changes in the gut microbiota. Growing evidence indicates that age, gender, and hormone levels can affect the composition of gut microbiota. The aim of this study is to examine the overall changes in gut microbiota within a specific sub-population of patients, namely, constipated women of reproductive age. Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study comparing the fecal microbial composition of 30 healthy women and 29 constipated women using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Only women of reproductive age were recruited to reduce the effects of age, gender, and hormone levels on the microbiome, and to prevent conflating the impact of these factors with the effects of constipation. Results: There were obvious differences in the gut microbiota in constipated women of reproductive age compared with the healthy controls, manifesting mainly as a significant increase in the abundance of Bacteroides (p < 0.05) and a significant decrease in the abundance of Proteobacteria (p < 0.01). The overall composition of the gut microbiota in each group was different, which was reflected in the ratios of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes (F/B), which was 1.52 in the constipated group vs. 2.21 in the healthy group. Additionally, there was a significant decrease in butyrate-producing bacteria, like Roseburia and Fusicatenibacter (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The overall composition of the gut microbiota changed in constipated women of reproductive age, characterized by a loss in Proteobacteria and an increase in Bacteroidetes. Furthermore, the abundance of some butyrate-producing bacteria also reduced. These changes may reflect the unique interactions between host and some bacteria, or some bacterial metabolic products, which may be important targets for future studies to explore the pathogenesis of constipation.
Background: Chronic constipation is one of the most prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorders, yet its etiology is multifactorial, and the pathophysiological mechanism is still unclear. Previous studies have shown that the gut microbiota of constipatedpatients differs from healthy controls; however, many discrepancies exist in the findings, and no clear link has been confirmed between chronic constipation and changes in the gut microbiota. Growing evidence indicates that age, gender, and hormone levels can affect the composition of gut microbiota. The aim of this study is to examine the overall changes in gut microbiota within a specific sub-population of patients, namely, constipatedwomen of reproductive age. Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study comparing the fecal microbial composition of 30 healthy women and 29 constipatedwomen using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Only women of reproductive age were recruited to reduce the effects of age, gender, and hormone levels on the microbiome, and to prevent conflating the impact of these factors with the effects of constipation. Results: There were obvious differences in the gut microbiota in constipatedwomen of reproductive age compared with the healthy controls, manifesting mainly as a significant increase in the abundance of Bacteroides (p < 0.05) and a significant decrease in the abundance of Proteobacteria (p < 0.01). The overall composition of the gut microbiota in each group was different, which was reflected in the ratios of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes (F/B), which was 1.52 in the constipated group vs. 2.21 in the healthy group. Additionally, there was a significant decrease in butyrate-producing bacteria, like Roseburia and Fusicatenibacter (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The overall composition of the gut microbiota changed in constipatedwomen of reproductive age, characterized by a loss in Proteobacteria and an increase in Bacteroidetes. Furthermore, the abundance of some butyrate-producing bacteria also reduced. These changes may reflect the unique interactions between host and some bacteria, or some bacterial metabolic products, which may be important targets for future studies to explore the pathogenesis of constipation.
Authors: N A Shepherd; L Hultén; G N Tytgat; R J Nicholls; D G Nasmyth; M J Hill; F Fernandez; D J Gertner; D S Rampton; M J Hill Journal: Int J Colorectal Dis Date: 1989-12 Impact factor: 2.571
Authors: Genevieve Bennett; Matthew Malone; Michelle L Sauther; Frank P Cuozzo; Bryan White; Karen E Nelson; Rebecca M Stumpf; Rob Knight; Steven R Leigh; Katherine R Amato Journal: Am J Primatol Date: 2016-05-13 Impact factor: 2.371
Authors: Rodolphe Soret; Julien Chevalier; Pierre De Coppet; Guillaume Poupeau; Pascal Derkinderen; Jean Pierre Segain; Michel Neunlist Journal: Gastroenterology Date: 2010-02-10 Impact factor: 22.682
Authors: Lesley A Houghton; Margaret Heitkemper; Michael Crowell; Anton Emmanuel; Albena Halpert; James A McRoberts; Brenda Toner Journal: Gastroenterology Date: 2016-02-15 Impact factor: 22.682
Authors: Lixin Zhu; Wensheng Liu; Razan Alkhouri; Robert D Baker; Jonathan E Bard; Eamonn M Quigley; Susan S Baker Journal: Physiol Genomics Date: 2014-07-29 Impact factor: 3.107
Authors: Leonardo Mancabelli; Christian Milani; Gabriele Andrea Lugli; Francesca Turroni; Marta Mangifesta; Alice Viappiani; Andrea Ticinesi; Antonio Nouvenne; Tiziana Meschi; Douwe van Sinderen; Marco Ventura Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2017-08-29 Impact factor: 4.379
Authors: Malena Dos Santos Guilherme; Francesco Valeri; Jennifer Winter; Marianne B Müller; Andreas Schwiertz; Kristina Endres Journal: Microorganisms Date: 2022-05-24