Differential Effects of Western and Mediterranean-Type Diets on Gut Microbiota: A Metagenomics and Metabolomics Approach
Claudia Barber,
Marianela Mego,
Carlos Sabater,
Fernando Vallejo,
Rogger Alvaro Bendezu,
Marcela Masihy,
Francisco Guarner,
Juan Carlos Espín,
Abelardo Margolles,
Fernando Azpiroz
Affiliations
Claudia Barber
Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d’Hebron, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (Ciberehd), 08035 Barcelona, Spain
Marianela Mego
Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d’Hebron, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (Ciberehd), 08035 Barcelona, Spain
Carlos Sabater
Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, IPLA-CSIC, 33300 Asturias, Spain
Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d’Hebron, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (Ciberehd), 08035 Barcelona, Spain
Marcela Masihy
Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d’Hebron, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (Ciberehd), 08035 Barcelona, Spain
Francisco Guarner
Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d’Hebron, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (Ciberehd), 08035 Barcelona, Spain
Juan Carlos Espín
Laboratory of Food & Health, Group of Quality, Safety, and Bioactivity of Plant Foods, CEBAS-CSIC, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Abelardo Margolles
Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, IPLA-CSIC, 33300 Asturias, Spain
Fernando Azpiroz
Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d’Hebron, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (Ciberehd), 08035 Barcelona, Spain
Our aim was to determine the effect of diet on gut microbiota, digestive function and sensations, using an integrated clinical, metagenomics and metabolomics approach. We conducted a cross-over, randomised study on the effects of a Western-type diet versus a fibre-enriched Mediterranean diet. In 20 healthy men, each diet was administered for 2 weeks preceded by a 2-week washout diet. The following outcomes were recorded: (a) number of anal gas evacuations; (b) digestive sensations; (c) volume of gas evacuated after a probe meal; (d) colonic content by magnetic resonance imaging; (e) gut microbiota taxonomy and metabolic functions by shotgun sequencing of faecal samples; (f) urinary metabolites using untargeted metabolomics. As compared to a Western diet, the Mediterranean diet was associated with (i) higher number of anal gas evacuations, (ii) sensation of flatulence and borborygmi, (iii) larger volume of gas after the meal and (iv) larger colonic content. Despite the relatively little difference in microbiota composition between both diets, microbial metabolism differed substantially, as shown by urinary metabolite profiles and the abundance of microbial metabolic pathways. The effects of the diet were less evident in individuals with robust microbiotas (higher beta-diversity). To conclude, healthy individuals tolerate dietary changes with minor microbial modifications at the composition level but with remarkable variation in microbial metabolism.