Gut Microbes (Dec 2024)

Comparative analysis of the duodenojejunal microbiome with the oral and fecal microbiomes reveals its stronger association with obesity and nutrition

  • Emilie Steinbach,
  • Eugeni Belda,
  • Rohia Alili,
  • Solia Adriouch,
  • Charlène J. G. Dauriat,
  • Gianfranco Donatelli,
  • Jean-Loup Dumont,
  • Filippo Pacini,
  • Thierry Tuszynski,
  • Véronique Pelloux,
  • Flavien Jacques,
  • Laura Creusot,
  • Emavieve Coles,
  • Paul Taillandier,
  • Marta Vazquez Gomez,
  • Davide Masi,
  • Véronique Mateo,
  • Sébastien André,
  • Melissa Kordahi,
  • Christine Rouault,
  • Jean-Daniel Zucker,
  • Harry Sokol,
  • Laurent Genser,
  • Benoit Chassaing,
  • Tiphaine Le Roy,
  • Karine Clément

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/19490976.2024.2405547
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16, no. 1

Abstract

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The intestinal microbiota is increasingly recognized as a crucial player in the development and maintenance of various chronic conditions, including obesity and associated metabolic diseases. While most research focuses on the fecal microbiota due to its easier accessibility, the small intestine, as a major site for nutrient sensing and absorption, warrants further investigation to determine its microbiota composition and functions. Here, we conducted a clinical research project in 30 age- and sex-matched participants with (n = 15) and without (n = 15) obesity. Duodenojejunal fluid was obtained by aspiration during endoscopy. Phenotyping included clinical variables related to metabolic status, lifestyle, and psychosocial factors using validated questionnaires. We performed metagenomic analyses of the oral, duodenojejunal, and fecal microbiome, alongside metabolomic data from duodenojejunal fluid and feces, integrating these data with clinical and lifestyle information. Our results highlight significant associations between duodenojejunal microbiota composition and usual dietary intake, as well as clinical phenotypes, with larger effect sizes than the associations between these variables and fecal microbiota. Notably, we found that the duodenojejunal microbiota of patients with obesity exhibited higher diversity and showed distinct differences in the abundance of several duodenojejunal microbiota species compared with individuals without obesity. Our findings support the relevance of studying the role of the small intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis of nutrition-related diseases.

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