Lifestyle patterns influence the composition of the gut microbiome in a healthy Chinese population

Abstract

High-throughput sequencing allows for the comprehensive analysis of the human intestinal microbiota. However, extensive association analyses between the microbiome and lifestyle differences in the Chinese population are limited. Here, we carried out an independent cohort study—the Chinese Healthy Gut Project (n = 483)—where correlations between the gut microbiota and dietary and lifestyle variables in a healthy Chinese population are defined. We collected both questionnaire data, including basic information and lifestyle and dietary variables, and fecal stools from the enrolled volunteers. We then performed 16S rRNA sequencing on the microbial DNA isolated from the stools to assess the composition of the intestinal microbiota. We found that Prevotella and Bacteroides were the most abundant genera in the healthy Chinese gut microbiome. Additionally, 9 out of 29 clinical and questionnaire-based phenotype covariates were found to be associated with the variation in the composition of the gut microbiota. Among these lifestyle phenotypes, sleep procrastination, negative mood, and drinking habits had the largest effect size. Additionally, an appreciable effect of urbanization was observed, resulting in decreased intra-individual diversity, increased inter-individual diversity, and an increased abundance of the Bacteroides enterotype. The results of this study provide a foundation for assessing the healthy Chinese gut microbiota community structure at baseline in a healthy Chinese population. Furthermore, this study also provides insights into understanding how distinctive living habits influence the relationships between the Chinese gut microbiome and systemic health state.

A comprehensive overview of microbiome data in the light of machine learning applications: categorization, accessibility, and future directions

“…The Chinese healthy gut project (Ren et al, 2023 ), outlined on the correlation between gut microbiota and various dietary and lifestyle factors among healthy individuals in China. Notably, lifestyle phenotypes, including sleep procrastination, negative mood, and drinking habits, exhibited substantial influence on gut microbiota composition, with these factors showing the largest effect sizes.…”

“…Singh and Mittal ( 2020 ) and Gacesa et al ( 2022 ) comprehensively reviewed the profound impact of diet on the pathophysiology of mental disorders, highlighting its crucial role in shaping mental health outcomes. Ren et al ( 2023 ) delved into the effects of dietary factors on the structure of the gut microbiota, while Manor et al ( 2020 ) highlighted the composition-specific nature of host-microbe associations, providing insights into the intricate connections between microbiome composition, clinical markers, and lifestyle factors.…”

Microbiome Dynamics: A Paradigm Shift in Combatting Infectious Diseases

“…Lifestyle factors and socio-economic determinants impact the microbiome and disease outcomes. Understanding these interplays requires interdisciplinary research [388,389]. Chronic diseases and comorbidities can alter the microbiome and influence disease susceptibility.…”

Persistent dysbiosis of duodenal microbiota in patients with controlled pediatric Crohn’s disease after resolution of inflammation

“…Despite these significant advances, previous studies have also shown inconsistent data on other taxonomic associations. Many factors such as lifestyle 15 , country of origin and geographic provenance 16 , diet 17 , 18 , and site of acquisition 19 affect microbiota composition. Because the microbiota composition varies between locations along the gastrointestinal tract, samples taken from different locations may yield different taxonomic associations.…”