Gut microbiota and its diet-related activity in children with intestinal failure on long-term parenteral nutrition

Neelis, E. G., de Koning, B. A.E., Hulst, J. M., Papadopoulou, R., Kerbiriou, C., Rings, E. H.H.M., Wijnen, R. M.H., Nichols, B. and Gerasimidis, K. (2022) Gut microbiota and its diet-related activity in children with intestinal failure on long-term parenteral nutrition. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, 46(3), pp. 693-708. (doi: 10.1002/jpen.2188) (PMID:33982321)

Abstract

Background: This study characterized the gut microbiota and its diet‐related metabolic activity in children with intestinal failure (IF) on parenteral nutrition (PN) compared with healthy controls and in relation to disease characteristics. Methods: Serial fecal samples were collected from 15 IF patients (n = 68) and from 25 healthy children (n = 25). The fecal microbiota, and short chain fatty acids (SCFA) were measured. Results: The microbiota of patients with IF had a lower bacterial load (p = 0.003), Shannon diversity index (p<0.001), taxon evenness (p<0.001) and richness (p = 0.006) than healthy controls. Patients with surgical IF had lower α‐diversity (p<0.039) than those with functional IF. Patients with IF had less propionic and butyric acid (p<0.001), and more D and L‐lactate than healthy controls (p<0.001). The percentage of calories supplied by PN (%PN) was negatively associated with microbiota diversity and influenced SCFA profile. IF patients had more Escherichia‐Shigella (p = 0.006), Cronobacter (p = 0.001) and Staphylococcus (OTU 14, p<0.001) and less Faecalibacterium (p<0.001) and Ruminococcus 1 and 2 (p<0.001). Duration of PN (R2 = 6%, p = 0.005), % of calories from PN (R2 = 6%, p = 0.005) and fiber intake (R2 = 5%, p = 0.011) were predictive of microbiota community structure. A higher intake of enteral nutrition was associated with a microbiota composition and function closer to that of the healthy status. Conclusions: The microbiota composition and its diet‐related function are altered in pediatric IF, with profound depletion of beneficial SCFA and species, and supraphysiological increase of potentially harmful pathobionts. The influence of this compositional and functional microbial dysbiosis on patients’ clinical outcomes and management warrants further exploration.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Kerbiriou, Caroline and Papadopoulou, Ms Rodanthi and Nichols, Mr Ben and Gerasimidis, Professor Konstantinos
• Authors: Neelis, E. G., de Koning, B. A.E., Hulst, J. M., Papadopoulou, R., Kerbiriou, C., Rings, E. H.H.M., Wijnen, R. M.H., Nichols, B., and Gerasimidis, K.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0148-6071
• ISSN (Online): 1941-2444
• Published Online: 13 May 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 46(3): 693-708
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
300280		The Role of Dietary D-serine in Health and Disease	Andrew Roe	Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)	BB/R006539/1	III - Bacteriology