Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity (Feb 2022)
The Association Between Fecal Short-Chain Fatty Acids, Gut Microbiota, and Visceral Fat in Monozygotic Twin Pairs
Abstract
Xing-Qi Yin,* Ya-Xin An,* Cai-Guo Yu, Jing Ke, Dong Zhao, Ke Yu Center for Endocrine Metabolism and Immune Diseases, Luhe Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Ke YuCenter for Endocrine Metabolism and Immune Diseases, Luhe Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 82, Xinhua South Road, Tongzhou District, Beijing, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 13811657618, Email [email protected]: To examine the association of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), gut microbiota and obesity in individual twins and to control for genetic and shared environmental effects by studying monozygotic intrapair differences.Patients and Methods: The study recruited 20 pairs of monozygotic twins. Body composition measurements were performed by using the multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance technique. SCFAs were extracted from feces and quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer. Gut microbiota was evaluated by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.Results: Fecal SCFAs were negatively correlated with adiposity parameters including body mass index, visceral adipose tissue and waist circumference (all P 0.05).Conclusion: Low fecal concentrations of SCFAs were associated with visceral obesity, and the gut microbiota might be involved in the underlying mechanism.Keywords: twins, short-chain fatty acids, gut microbiota, obesity, visceral fat
