Unlocking the gut microbiota differences between obese and age-matched control healthy Chinese children: a pilot cross-sectional study [Oral presentation]

Abstract

<p><strong>Introduction</strong></p><p>Childhood overweight and obesity are ubiquitous round the globe with rising prevalence over the past decades. The etiology of obesity is complex which involves biological and environmental factors. Emerging evidence showed a potential role of gut microbiome in the development of obesity through its interaction with intestinal epithelium, immune cells and metabolic organs. Nonetheless, studies on gut microbiome in obese Chinese children are lacking.</p><p>​​​​​​​<strong>Methods</strong></p><p>In a pilot study, we recruited five morbid obese (BMI = 43.8±3.8) adolescents who were on list for bariatric surgeries and five normal-weight (BMI = 19.3±3.8) adolescents aged 14-17 years old. Fecal samples were collected and stored in a DNA stabilizer (OMNIgene-GUT). DNA was extracted from the samples and subjected to next-generation shotgun sequencing. Microbiota was profiled using MetaPhlAn4 and Humann4.</p><p><strong>Results</strong></p><p>The gut microbiota of the obese group was significantly enriched with Bacteroides xylanisolvens, Roseburia faecis, Agathobaculum butyriciproducens, Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum and Fusicatenibacter saccharivorans. As for microbial functions, the obese group has higher abundance of pathways responsible for peptidoglycan biosynthesis, UDP-N-acetylmuramoyl-pentapeptide biosynthesis (I/II/III) and O-antigen biosynthesis. Meanwhile, elevated abundance in pathways responsible for fructan biosynthesis and gluconeogenesis I were observed in the normal-weight group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion </strong></p><p>This study demonstrated a significant difference in the gut microbiota composition of important bacterial species and their functional pathways between obese and age-matched control healthy Chinese children. This helps to guide clinicians in understanding the mechanism of obesity development as well as developing potential biological intervention for patients in the future.</p>