Linking gut microbiota, metabolic syndrome and economic status based on a population-level analysis

• Main Authors: Yan He, Wei Wu, Shan Wu, Hui-Min Zheng, Pan Li, Hua-Fang Sheng, Mu-Xuan Chen, Zi-Hui Chen, Gui-Yuan Ji, Zhong-Dai-Xi Zheng, Prabhakar Mujagond, Xiao-Jiao Chen, Zu-Hua Rong, Peng Chen, Li-Yi Lyu, Xian Wang, Jia-Bao Xu, Chong-Bin Wu, Nan Yu, Yan-Jun Xu, Jia Yin, Jeroen Raes, Wen-Jun Ma, Hong-Wei Zhou
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2018-09-01
• Series: Microbiome
• Subjects: Metabolic syndrome; Faecal microbiome; Guangdong Gut Microbiome Project; Epidemiology; Population level survey; Economic status
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40168-018-0557-6
• ISSN: 2049-2618

Abstract Background The metabolic syndrome (MetS) epidemic is associated with economic development, lifestyle transition and dysbiosis of gut microbiota, but these associations are rarely studied at the population scale. Here, we utilised the Guangdong Gut Microbiome Project (GGMP), the largest Eastern population-based gut microbiome dataset covering individuals with different economic statuses, to investigate the relationships between the gut microbiome and host physiology, diet, geography, physical activity and socioeconomic status. Results At the population level, 529 OTUs were significantly associated with MetS. OTUs from Proteobacteria and Firmicutes (other than Ruminococcaceae) were mainly positively associated with MetS, whereas those from Bacteroidetes and Ruminococcaceae were negatively associated with MetS. Two hundred fourteen OTUs were significantly associated with host economic status (140 positive and 74 negative associations), and 157 of these OTUs were also MetS associated. A microbial MetS index was formulated to represent the overall gut dysbiosis of MetS. The values of this index were significantly higher in MetS subjects regardless of their economic status or geographical location. The index values did not increase with increasing personal economic status, although the prevalence of MetS was significantly higher in people of higher economic status. With increased economic status, the study population tended to consume more fruits and vegetables and fewer grains, whereas meat consumption was unchanged. Sedentary time was significantly and positively associated with higher economic status. The MetS index showed an additive effect with sedentary lifestyle, as the prevalence of MetS in individuals with high MetS index values and unhealthy lifestyles was significantly higher than that in the rest of the population. Conclusions The gut microbiome is associated with MetS and economic status. A prolonged sedentary lifestyle, rather than Westernised dietary patterns, was the most notable lifestyle change in our Eastern population along with economic development. Moreover, gut dysbiosis and a Western lifestyle had an additive effect on increasing MetS prevalence.