Published online Jun 27, 2022. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v14.i6.1210
Peer-review started: May 16, 2021
First decision: June 27, 2021
Revised: July 9, 2022
Accepted: May 14, 2022
Article in press: May 14, 2022
Published online: June 27, 2022
Processing time: 402 Days and 23.8 Hours
Gut dysbiosis and changes in body composition (i.e., a decrease in the proportion of muscle mass and an increase in extracellular fluid) are common in cirrhosis.
To study the relationship between the gut microbiota and body composition in cirrhosis.
This observational study included 46 patients with cirrhosis. Stool microbiome was assessed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis was performed to assess body composition in these patients.
An increase in fat mass and a decrease in body cell mass were noted in 23/46 (50.0%) and 15/46 (32.6%) patients, respectively. Changes in the gut microbiome were not independently associated with the fat mass percentage in cirrhosis. The abundance of Bacteroidaceae (P = 0.041) and Eggerthella (P = 0.001) increased, whereas that of Erysipelatoclostridiaceae (P = 0.006), Catenibacterium (P = 0.021), Coprococcus (P = 0.033), Desulfovibrio (P = 0.043), Intestinimonas (P = 0.028), and Senegalimassilia (P = 0.015) decreased in the gut microbiome of patients with body cell mass deficiency. The amount of extracellular fluid increased in 22/46 (47.6%) patients. Proteobacteria abundance (P < 0.001) increased, whereas Firmicutes (P = 0.023), Actinobacteria (P = 0.026), Bacilli (P = 0.008), Anaerovoraceceae (P = 0.027), Christensenellaceae (P = 0.038), Eggerthellaceae (P = 0.047), Erysipelatoclostridiaceae (P = 0.015), Erysipelotrichaceae (P = 0.003), Oscillospiraceae (P = 0.024), Rikenellaceae (P = 0.002), Collinsella (P = 0.030), Hungatella (P = 0.040), Peptococcaceae (P = 0.023), Slackia (P = 0.008), and Senegalimassilia (P = 0.024) abundance decreased in these patients. Patients with clinically significant ascites (n = 9) had a higher abundance of Proteobacteria (P = 0.031) and a lower abundance of Actinobacteria (P = 0.019) and Bacteroidetes (P = 0.046) than patients without clinically significant ascites (n = 37).
Changes in the amount of body cell mass and extracellular fluid are associated with changes in the gut microbiome in cirrhosis patients.
Core Tip: The abundance of Bacteroidaceae and Eggerthella increased, whereas that of Erysipelatoclostridiaceae, Catenibacterium, Coprococcus, Desulfovibrio, Intestinimonas, and Senegalimassilia decreased in the gut microbiome of patients with body cell mass deficiency. Proteobacteria abundance was increased, whereas Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Bacilli, Christensenellaceae, Anaerovoraceceae, Eggerthellaceae, Erysipelatoclostridiaceae, Erysipelotrichaceae, Oscillospiraceae, Peptococcaceae, Rikenellaceae, Collinsella, Hungatella, Slackia, and Senegalimassilia abundance decreased in cirrhosis patients with excess extracellular fluid.