Increasing Dietary Fiber Intake Is Associated with a Distinct Esophageal Microbiome

Abstract

IntroductionThere is increasing evidence that the microbiome contributes to esophageal disease. Diet, especially fiber and fat intake, is a known potent modifier of the colonic microbiome, but its impact on the esophageal microbiome is not well described. We hypothesized that dietary fiber and fat intake would be associated with a distinct esophageal microbiome.MethodsWe collected esophageal samples from 47 ambulatory patients scheduled to undergo endoscopy who completed a validated food frequency questionnaire quantifying dietary fiber and fat intake. Using 16S high-throughput sequencing, we determined composition of the esophageal microbiome and predicted functional capacity of microbiota based on fiber and fat intake.ResultsAmong all samples, the most abundant phyla were Firmicutes (54.0%), Proteobacteria (19.0%), Bacteroidetes (17.0%), Actinobacteria (5.2%), and Fusobacteria (4.3%). Increasing fiber intake was significantly associated with increasing relative abundance of Firmicutes (p = 0.04) and decreasing relative abundance of Gram-negative bacteria overall (p = 0.03). Low fiber intake was associated with increased relative abundance of several Gram-negative bacteria, including Prevotella, Neisseria, and Eikenella. Several predicted metabolic pathways differed between highest and lowest quartile of fiber intake. Fat intake was associated with altered relative abundance of few taxa, with no alterations at the phylum level and no changes in microbiome functional composition.ConclusionsDietary fiber, but not fat, intake was associated with a distinct esophageal microbiome. Diet should be considered an important modifier of the esophageal microbiome in future studies. Studies are also needed to elucidate how the effects of dietary fiber on the esophageal microbiome may contribute to esophageal disease.

Signatures within esophageal microbiota with progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

“…Nobel et al . ( 34 ) found low fiber intake was associated with increased relative abundance of several gram-negative bacteria, including Prevotella , Neisseria and so on. All participants in this study were from the same county and had a similar dietary pattern.…”

Single-cell RNA sequencing identifies inflammatory tissue T cells in eosinophilic esophagitis

“…Human intestinal epithelium, including the esophagus (43), is enriched with commensal microbiota, and SCFA (C2-C5) is a major metabolic product (44) of this microbiota. Recent data demonstrated that the esophagus is colonized by microbiota known to be butyrate producers (45), mainly comprising several genera of Clostridium under the Firmicutes phylum (46), especially Clostridium cluster IV and XIVa. Notably, C4-producing Firmicutes were 1 of the 4 main phyla in the esophagus of EoE and control patients (47).…”

Exploring Esophageal Microbiomes in Esophageal Diseases: A Systematic Review

“…In a previous study, dietary fiber intake was associated with increased number of Firmicutes and decreased number of gramnegative bacteria. 27 Conversely, low fiber intake was associated with a high number of gram-negative bacteria, including Prevotella, Neisseria, and Eikenella. It has been known that low fiber diet can lead to weight gain, 36 while high fiber diet may increase the production of short-chain fatty acid in the colon and improve systematic insulin sensitivity.…”