Beneficial Effects of a Dietary Weight Loss Intervention on Human Gut Microbiome Diversity and Metabolism Are Not Sustained during Weight Maintenance

Abstract

Objective: In the present study, we examined the effect of a very low-calorie diet(VLCD)-based obesity program on human gut microbiome diversity and metabolism during weight loss and weight maintenance. Methods: Obese subjects underwent 3 months of VLCD followed by 3 months of weight maintenance. A lean and an obese control group were included. The microbiome was characterized by performing high-throughput dual-indexed 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing. Results: At baseline, a significant difference in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio between the lean and obese individuals was observed (p = 0.047). The VLCD resulted in significant alterations in gut microbiome diversity from baseline to 3 months (p = 0.0053). Acinetobacter represented an indicator species for the observed effect (indicator value = 0.998, p = 0.006). Metabolic analyses revealed alterations of the bacterial riboflavin pathway from baseline to 3 months (p_nom = 0.0078). These changes in diversity and bacterial metabolism induced by VLCD diminished during the weight maintenance phase, despite sustained reductions in body weight and sustained improvements of insulin sensitivity. Conclusion: The present data show that a VLCD is able to beneficially alter both gut microbiome diversity and metabolism in obese humans, but that these changes are not sustained during weight maintenance. This finding might suggest that the microbiome should be targeted during obesity programs.

Effect of Synbiotic Supplementation in a Very‐Low‐Calorie Ketogenic Diet on Weight Loss Achievement and Gut Microbiota: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

“…Since the composition of VLCKD is characterized by a marked increase in protein and a reduction in carbohydrates and fat, the utilization of such a diet may induce changes in gut microbiota. However, to the best of our knowledge, this is one of few reports on the effect of a VLCKD on gut microbiota in obese patients …”

Targeted Microbiome Intervention by Microencapsulated Delayed-Release Niacin Beneficially Affects Insulin Sensitivity in Humans

“…weight loss interventions have been reported to influence the abundance of Bacteroidetes (3) and the overall microbial diversity (5,6).…”

Chronic water insufficiency induced kidney damage and energy dysregulation despite reduced food intake, which improved gut microbiota in female rats

“…Imbalances in the gut microbiota, the bacteria that inhabit the intestines, are central to the pathogenesis of obesity. Calorie restriction increases the microbiota richness and diversity that is correlated with nutrient deficiency rather than weight loss [10]. Calorie restrictive diets generally reduce the butyrate-producing bacteria such as Firmicutes, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium species [39].…”

“…The hormone also exerts negative effects on gut perfusion, the motor of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome [9]. The changes in the gut microbiome community alter the energy, glucose, and lipid metabolism in addition to inflammation [10,11]. Thus, water deficiency may modulate central and systemic metabolism through several pathways including the gut microbiome community.…”