Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 28, 2011; 17(8): 1076-1081
Published online Feb 28, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i8.1076
Gut bacteria alteration in obese people and its relationship with gene polymorphism
Hao-Jiang Zuo, Zhi-Mei Xie, Wei-Wei Zhang, Yong-Ru Li, Wei Wang, Xiao-Bei Ding, Xiao-Fang Pei
Hao-Jiang Zuo, Zhi-Mei Xie, Wei-Wei Zhang, Yong-Ru Li, Wei Wang, Xiao-Bei Ding, Xiao-Fang Pei, Department of Medical Technology, West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Author contributions: Pei XF and Zuo HJ designed the research; Zuo HJ, Xie ZM, Zhang WW, Li YR, Wang W, Ding XB and Pei XF performed the research; Zuo HJ and Ding XB analyzed the data; Zuo HJ and Pei XF wrote the paper.
Supported by Danone Institute China Diet Nutrition Research and Communication grant (2006)
Correspondence to: Xiao-Fang Pei, MD, Professor of Microbiology, Department of Medical Technology, West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China. xxpei@sina.com
Telephone: +86-28-85502097 Fax: +86-28-85501502
Received: October 20, 2010
Revised: November 30, 2010
Accepted: December 7, 2010
Published online: February 28, 2011
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the differences in cultivable gut bacteria and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ2 (PPAR-γ2) gene Pro12Ala variation in obese and normal-weight Chinese people.

METHODS: Using culture methods, the amounts of Escherichia coli, Enterococci, Bacteroides, Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria and Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) in the feces of 52 obese participants [body mass index (BMI): ≥ 28 kg/m2] and 52 participants of normal-weight (BMI: 18.5-24 kg/m2) were obtained. Study participants completed comprehensive questionnaires and underwent clinical laboratory tests. The polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-PFLP) assay was used to analyze PPAR-γ2 gene Pro12Ala variation.

RESULTS: The obese group exhibited a lower amount of C. perfringens (6.54 ± 0.65 vs 6.94 ± 0.57, P = 0.001) and Bacteroides (9.81 ± 0.58 vs 10.06 ± 0.39, P = 0.012) than their normal-weight counterparts. No major differences were observed in Pro12Ala genotype distribution between the two groups; however, obese individuals with a Pro/Ala genotype had a significantly lower level of Bacteroides (9.45 ± 0.62 vs 9.93 ± 0.51, P = 0.027) than those with a Pro/Pro genotype. In addition, the obese group demonstrated a higher stool frequency (U = 975, P < 0.001) and a looser stool (U = 1062, P = 0.015) than the normal-weight group.

CONCLUSION: Our results indicated interactions among cultivable gut flora, host genetic factors and obese phenotype and this might be helpful for obesity prevention.

Keywords: Obesity; Human gut flora; Culture methods; Gene polymorphism; Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ2