Correlation between Gut Microbiota, its Metabolic Products, and their Association with Liver Enzymes among Sample of Egyptian Females

Abstract

Background and Aim: The gut microbiota appears to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of obesity, liver metabolism and the associated diseases. The present study aimed to identify the existing gut microbiota enterotypes and its metabolic products profiles among a sample of normal weight and obese Egyptian females, and to investigate the correlation between gut microbiota; body mass index andliver enzymes among them.Methods: A case-control cross-sectional study, included 112 Egyptian females; 82obese and30 normal weight; with age ranged from 25 up to 60 years. For each participant, anthropometric measurements (weight, height and BMI), laboratory investigations (AST, ALT, SCFA, CRP) and microbiota analysis were done. Results: The obese females had higher significant values of CRP,AST, ALTand SCFA. In addition, obese females had insignificant higher values of log Bacteroidetes, log firmicutes, log firmicutes/ Bacteroidetes ratio, and log lactobacillus, and insignificant lower values of log bifidobacteria; than normal weight group.Among normal weight group, Lactobacillus shad significant positive correlations with SCFA, Bifidobacteria and Firmicutes, and significant negative correlations with AST, ALTand CRP. Bifidobacteria had significant negative correlations with Ht and ALT. Bacteroidetes bacteria had significant positive correlations with SCFA, and significant negative correlations with age and height. Firmicutes bacteria had significant negative correlations with AST and ALT. Firmicutes / Bacteroidetes Ratio had significant negative correlations with AST, ALTand SCFA. Among obese group, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria had significant negative correlations with Firmicutes / Bacteroidetes Ratio however; these correlations were insignificant among normal weight group. Moreover, there were insignificant correlations between any type of studied microbiota and any of the anthropometric or laboratory parameters; except Firmicutes bacteria had significant negative correlations with ALT.Conclusion: The beneficial Lactobacillus and bifidobacteria have its good impact in improving obesity status, liver function in form of ALT.