Structural changes in the gut microbiome of constipated patients

Abstract

Previous studies using culture-based methods suggested an association between constipation and altered abundance of certain taxa of the colonic microbiome. We aim to examine the global changes in gut microbial composition of constipated patients. A cross-sectional pilot study using 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing was performed to compare stool microbial composition of eight constipated patients and 14 nonconstipated controls. Only obese children were enrolled so that the microbiome features associated with constipation would not be obscured by those associated with obesity. The sequencing reads were processed by QIIME for quantitative analysis of the microbial composition at genus and above levels. Dietary intake for all the individuals was assessed by dietary recalls and a food frequency questionnaire. The ecological diversities of fecal microbiome of the constipated patients differed from those of the controls. Significantly decreased abundance in Prevotella and increased representation in several genera of Firmicutes were observed in constipated patients compared with controls. The conventional probiotic genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria were not decreased in the microbiomes of the constipated patients. These alterations in the fecal microbiome of constipated patients suggested that a novel probiotic treatment including certain Prevotella strains may be more effective than conventional probiotic products incorporating Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium species. While it is possible that the observed changes in the microbiome in constipated subjects are a consequence of a low-fiber diet, these changes also predict a different pattern of bacterial fermentation end-products, such as increased butyrate production, which may contribute to pathogenesis of constipation.

Linking Smoking, Coffee, Urate, and Parkinson’s Disease – A Role for Gut Microbiota?

“…Decreased Prevotella abundance and, more consistently, a decreased abundance of Bifidobacteria were found in constipated subjects [65][66][67]. In our recent study, however, we did not find such associations.…”

Gut microbial and short-chain fatty acid profiles in adults with chronic constipation before and after treatment with lubiprostone

“…3) and sequencing (data not shown). Levels of Lactobacillus were significantly reduced in adults with constipation [20] but were similar when non-constipated children were compared with constipated ones [18,19]. Here, in adult stool samples, we found little difference in Lactobacillus between the two groups.…”

“…Zoppi et al [18] used culturebased techniques and observed higher colony counts in Clostridia and Bifidobacteria in children with constipation. In a recent study with pyrosequencing, Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus were not significantly different in the stool samples when obese children with constipation were compared with obese children without constipation [19]. In contrast, Khalif et al [20] reported low levels of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus in stool samples from adults with chronic constipation.…”

Alteration of Gut Microbiota and Efficacy of Probiotics in Functional Constipation

“…9 A cross-sectional pilot study using 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing found that patients with constipation did not exhibit decreased levels of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species, but did exhibit significantly decreased levels of Prevotella. 10 Regarding methane, the presence of methanogenic bacteria has been shown to be higher in patients with slow transit constipation compared withnon-constipated controls. 4 These alterations in gut microbiota might be either a cause of FC or a consequence of this condition.…”