Impact of a Moderately Hypocaloric Mediterranean Diet on the Gut Microbiota Composition of Italian Obese Patients

Abstract

<jats:p>Although it is known that the gut microbiota (GM) can be modulated by diet, the efficacy of specific dietary interventions in determining its composition and diversity in obese patients remains to be ascertained. The present work aims to evaluate the impact of a moderately hypocaloric Mediterranean diet on the GM of obese and overweight patients (OB). The GM of 23 OB patients (F/M= 20/3) was compared before (T0) and after 3 months (T3) of the nutritional intervention (NI). Fecal samples were analyzed by Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. At baseline, the GM characterization confirmed the typical obesity-associated dysbiosis. After 3 months of NI, patients presented a statistically significant reduction of the body weight and fat mass, along with changes in the relative abundance of many microbial patterns. In fact, we observed an increased abundance in several Bacteroidetes taxa (i.e. Sphingobacteriaceae, Sphingobacterium, Bacteroides spp., Prevotella stercorea) and depletion of many Firmicutes taxa (i.e. Lachnospiraceae members, Ruminococcaceae and Ruminococcus, Veillonellaceae, Catenibacterium, Megamonas). In addition, the phylum Proteobacteria showed an increased abundance, while the genus Sutterella, within the same phylum, decreased after the intervention. Metabolic pathways, predicted by bioinformatic analyses, showed a decrease in membrane transport and cell motility after NI. The present study extends our knowledge of the GM profiles in OB, highlighting the potential benefit of a moderate caloric restriction in counteracting the gut dysbiosis.</jats:p>

Mediterranean Diet, Lifestyle and Quality of Life in Sardinian Patients Affected with Hidradenitis Suppurativa

“…In the study of Fernandez et al, a sample of HS patients was asked, by means of an anonymous questionnaire, to indicate foods that respectively exacerbated or alleviated HS symptoms; among the former, were indicated sweets, carbohydrates, dairy and high-fat foods, while among the latter, were indicated vegetables and fruits, chicken and fish 39 . Mediterranean Diet, characterized by a high intake of vegetables, fruit, legumes, wholegrains and fish, and by a low intake of meat and dairy, is considered one of the healthiest nutritional models, and due to its richness in antioxidants compounds, such as polyphenols, contained in plant-derived food, it has considered to have a protective role against both inflammation and obesity, as well as to modulate the gut microbiota composition in obese patients 40,41,42 .…”

“…39 Mediterranean diet, characterized by a high intake of vegetables, fruit, legumes, wholegrains and fish, and by a low intake of meat and dairy, is considered one of the healthiest nutritional models, and due to its richness in antioxidants compounds, such as polyphenols, contained in plant-derived food, it has considered to have a protective role against both inflammation and obesity, as well as to modulate the gut microbiota composition in obese patients. [40][41][42] In HS patients, a low adherence to the Mediterranean diet has been observed, and in detail, a nutritional pattern characterized by an excess of simple carbohydrates and saturated fats, and a low intake of complex carbohydrates, fiber, mono-unsaturated and n-3 poly-unsaturated fats has been described. Moreover, in the same study, the degree of adherence to Mediterranean diet, has been shown to be negatively associated to the severity of HS.…”

“…Mediterranean diet, characterized by a high intake of vegetables, fruit, legumes, wholegrains and fish, and by a low intake of meat and dairy, is considered one of the healthiest nutritional models, and due to its richness in antioxidants compounds, such as polyphenols, contained in plant-derived food, it has considered to have a protective role against both inflammation and obesity, as well as to modulate the gut microbiota composition in obese patients. 40–42…”

Gut-Brain Axis and Food

“…Daily intake of MedDiet changes the gut microbiota to an increased presence of Bacteroidetes, depletion of Firmicutes, lower ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes, decreased Escherichia coli (E.coli), an increased proportion of Bifidobacteria/E. coli and an increase in Proteobacteria [57][58][59]. Besides cardiovascular, metabolic, and anti-cancer benefits, MedDiet can reduce gut inflammation, lower the risk of depression, decrease the incidence of Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) [60,61].…”

Obesidade e Microbiota Intestinal: o que sabemos até agora?

“…Ejtahed et al2019 (27) trouxe dados sobre aumento de BCAAs e AAAs em obesos, relação do glutamato com obesidade e resistência à insulina em crianças de idade escolar e adultos de meia idade, comparados com controle. Um artigo de Pisanu et al, 2020(28)…”