Fructan‐sensitive children with irritable bowel syndrome have distinct gut microbiome signatures

Abstract

SummaryBackgroundDietary fructans may worsen gastrointestinal symptoms in children with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).AimTo determine whether gut microbiome composition and function are associated with childhood IBS fructan‐induced symptoms.MethodsFaecal samples were collected from 38 children aged 7‐17 years with paediatric Rome III IBS, who previously completied a double‐blind, randomised, placebo‐controlled crossover (fructan vs maltodextrin) trial. Fructan sensitivity was defined as an increase of ≥30% in abdominal pain frequency during the fructan diet. Gut microbial composition was determined via 16Sv4 rDNA sequencing. LEfSe evaluated taxonomic composition differences. Tax4Fun2 predicted microbial fructan metabolic pathways.ResultsAt baseline, 17 fructan‐sensitive (vs 21 fructan‐tolerant) subjects had lower alpha diversity (q < 0.05) and were enriched in the genus Holdermania. In contrast, fructan‐tolerant subjects were enriched in 14 genera from the class Clostridia. During the fructan diet, fructan‐sensitive (vs tolerant) subjects were enriched in both Agathobacter (P = 0.02) and Cyanobacteria (P = 0.0001). In contrast, fructan‐tolerant subjects were enriched in three genera from the Clostridia class. Comparing the fructan vs maltodextrin diet, fructan‐sensitive subjects had a significantly increased relative abundance of Bifidobacterium (P = 0.02) while fructan‐tolerant subjects had increased Anaerostipes (P = 0.03) during the fructan diet. Only fructan‐sensitive subjects had a trend towards increased predicted β‐fructofuranosidase during the fructan vs maltodextrin diet.ConclusionsFructan‐sensitive children with IBS have distinct gut microbiome signatures. These microbiome signatures differ both at baseline and in response to a fructan challenge.

Non-Photosynthetic Melainabacteria (Cyanobacteria) in Human Gut: Characteristics and Association with Health

“…Oduaran et al (2020) analyzed the population of South Africa and observed a significant abundance of the Vampirovibrio members (non-photosynthetic cyanobacterial Melainabacteria) in the rural community Bushbuckridge when compared to inhabitants the highly urbanized area Soweto [37]. Chumpitazi et al (2019) noticed that the fructan-sensitive children with irritable bowel syndrome have enriched cyanobacteria compared to the fructan-tolerant group, indicating the involvement of cyanobacteria in food digestion [38]. Cai et al (2020) analyzed the gut microbiota composition in the patients with Wilson's disease (an autosomal recessive inherited disorder of chronic copper toxicosis), and they observed a higher cyanobacterial abundance in the patients with Wilson's disease compared to the health controls (0.12% vs. 0.0%, p < 0.05) [39].…”

An ESPGHAN Position Paper on the Use of Low-FODMAP Diet in Pediatric Gastroenterology

“…Recently, the same authors tried to provide a biomarker of response to a low‐FODMAP diet by profiling fecal microbiota in children with IBS through a cross over provocation using fructans (a FODMAP) and maltodextrin (placebo) solutions (48). Those classified as ‘fructan‐sensitive’ differed in their fecal microbiota on alpha diversity, and abundances of Holdermania and 14 Clostridial genera from those deemed ‘fructan‐tolerant’.…”

Chicoric Acid Effectively Mitigated Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS)-Induced Colitis in BALB/c Mice by Modulating the Gut Microbiota and Fecal Metabolites

“…This study demonstrated a higher abundance of Cyanobacteria in infants with viral diarrhea compared to healthy individuals [48]. In fecal samples from 38 children aged 7-17 years with pediatric Roman type III IBD who had previously completed a doubleblind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial (fructose versus maltodextrin), an elevated abundance of Cyanobacteria was observed after fructan ingestion compared to fructan-tolerant children [49]. These studies suggest a potential involvement of Cyanobacteria in the development of gastrointestinal and inflammatory diseases, though further research is needed to determine whether intestinal Cyanobacteria can cause diseases or whether changes in their abundance are a consequence of disease.…”