Distribution of Urolithins Metabotypes in Healthy Chinese Youth: Difference in Gut Microbiota and Predicted Metabolic Pathways

Abstract

This is the first study to report the distribution of urolithin metabotypes (UMs) in Asian people, specifically in the Chinese. As was reported for Europeans and Latin Americans, three UMs were observed, UM-A (54.3%), UM-B (31.4%), and UM-0 (14.3%), in 35 healthy Chinese youth. The richness and diversity of gut microbiota were lower in UM-0 than in UM-A and UM-B at the genus level. Gordonibacter in UM-A and UM-B was significantly higher than that in UM-0. The Akkermansia was not found in UM-0. The correlation analysis between the type and content of urolithins and the gut microbiota at the genus level showed that 27 genera were significantly positively correlated with urolithin A and 20 genera were significantly positively associated with isourolithin A and urolithin B. In addition, different KEGG pathways such as TCA cycle, energy metabolism, and some disease were found between the gut microbiome of the three UMs. Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms of metabotypes and the differential health benefits or illness predisposition of the three UMs.

Urolithins: potential biomarkers of gut dysbiosis and disease stage in Parkinson's patients

“…In the Western and Eastern populations, three UMs have been identified depending on the final urolithins produced, i.e., metabotype A (UM-A, only urolithin A producers), metabotype B (UM-B, urolithin A, isourolithin A and urolithin B producers), and metabotype 0 (UM-0, urolithin non-producers). 20,21 The percentage of individuals with UM-0 (10%) remains approximately constant in the population from 5 to 90 years, 22 although this proportion can be affected in transient or permanent gut dysbiosis states. 23,24 Based on the gut dysbiosis involvement in the onset and progression of PD and the potential to stratify individuals in UMs as a tool to predict functionality and health status of gut microbiota, we speculated that UM distribution (%) could be altered in PD patients.…”

“…, metabotype A (UM-A, only urolithin A producers), metabotype B (UM-B, urolithin A, isourolithin A and urolithin B producers), and metabotype 0 (UM-0, urolithin non-producers). 20,21 The percentage of individuals with UM-0 (10%) remains approximately constant in the population from 5 to 90 years, 22 although this proportion can be affected in transient or permanent gut dysbiosis states. 23,24…”

Recent Advances and Perspectives on the Health Benefits of Urolithin B, A Bioactive Natural Product Derived From Ellagitannins

“…The quantitative determination of Uro B in plasma and urine is simple, while intracellular testing is more complex. If tissue is available, the amount of Uro B in a biopsy material can be determined; however, this approach is significantly limited by the risk of biopsy-related complications in target organs of action, such as the liver and kidney ( Xian et al, 2021 ). Of note, to better investigate the distribution of Uro B in organs and tissues, 11 C-labeled Uro B positron emission tomography (PET) can be applied ( Figure 2 ) ( Kim et al, 2019 ).…”

Potential of Establishing the Corresponding Human Microbial Community in Pseudo Germ-Free Mice through Fecal Microbe Transfer from Three Urolithin Metabotypes

“…15 Gordonibacter, an important genus of EA metabolism, was found to be significantly higher in UM-A and UM-B than in UM-0. 16 A previous study found that whether before or after ingestion of pomegranate extract, the Akkermansia genus in individuals who can produce UroA was more abundant than in those who cannot. 17 It has been reported that the majority of bacteria capable of metabolizing EA to urolithins, characterized so far, belongs to the Eggerthellaceae family, such as Gordonibacter urolithinfaciens sp.…”