The gut microbiome and metabolites are altered and interrelated in patients with functional constipation

Yan-Qiu Li; Xiang-Yun Yan; Xian-Jun Xiao; Pei-Tao Ma; Si-Qi Wang; Hui-Lin Liu; Wei Zhang; Min Chen; Jun-Peng Yao; Ying Li

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2023.1320567

The gut microbiome and metabolites are altered and interrelated in patients with functional constipation

Front Microbiol. 2023 Dec 6:14:1320567. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1320567. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Yan-Qiu Li^#¹, Xiang-Yun Yan^#¹, Xian-Jun Xiao^#², Pei-Tao Ma¹, Si-Qi Wang¹, Hui-Lin Liu¹, Wei Zhang¹, Min Chen³, Jun-Peng Yao¹, Ying Li¹

Affiliations

¹ Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
² School of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
³ Anorectal Department, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Introduction: Gut microbiota and metabolites have been identified to contribute to the pathogenesis of functional constipation (FC); however, the underlying mechanism(s) have not been elucidated, and the relationship between the gut microbiota and metabolites in FC has received limited attention in the literature.

Methods: 16S rDNA sequencing and non-targeted metabolomic detection based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) technologies were combined to analyze the altered gut microbiome and metabolic profile of fecal samples from FC patients and healthy individuals (healthy control; HC).

Results: The richness and diversity of gut microbiota significantly (p < 0.01) increased in FC patients. Compared to the HC group, 18 genera, including Intestinibacter, Klebsiella, and Akkermansia, exhibited statistically significant changes (p < 0.05). Metabolic analysis showed that metabolic profiles were also markedly altered with 79 metabolites, such as (-)-caryophyllene oxide, chenodeoxycholic acid, and biliverdin, indicating significant inter-group differences (p < 0.05). Besides, the primary bile acid biosynthesis, as well as the metabolic profile of porphyrin and chlorophyll, were the most dominant enriched pathways (FDR < 0.01), in which chenodeoxycholic acid and biliverdin were significantly enriched, respectively. Correlation analysis demonstrated a strong relationship between 10 genera and 19 metabolites (r > 0.6, FDR < 0.05), and notably, Intestinibacter showed a negative correlation with biliverdin (FDR < 0.001), which highlighted the interplay of the gut microbiota and metabolites in the pathogenesis of FC.

Conclusion: Our research describes the characteristics of the gut microbiota and metabolic profiles and the correlation between the gut microbiota and metabolites in FC patients. This may contribute to the understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in FC pathogenesis and may provide novel insights into therapeutic interventions.

Keywords: clinical trial; correlation analysis; fecal metabolites; functional constipation; gut microbiota.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This study was supported by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NO.82074554).