Association of childhood obesity with gut microbiota diversity and fecal short-chain fatty acids
10.3760/cma.j.cn311282-20250414-00194
- VernacularTitle:儿童肥胖与肠道菌群多样性及短链脂肪酸代谢产物的关联分析
- Author:
Bin CHEN
1
;
Li YE
;
Shengjie FAN
Author Information
1. 福建医科大学附属南平第一医院临床营养科，南平 353000
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Gut microbiota;
Short-chain fatty acids;
Children;
Obesity;
Correlation
- From:
Chinese Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism
2025;41(8):649-655
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To explore the relationship between childhood obesity, gut microbiota, and short chain fatty acids(SCFAs) based on 16S rRNA sequencing.Methods:A total of 162 obese children admitted to our hospital and 162 age-matched healthy children with normal body weight from the same period were selected as the control group. Baseline data were collected. Gut microbiota composition and abundance were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing, and fecal SCFA levels were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Then, multiple linear regression, multivariable logistic regression, Spearman correlation, and restricted cubic spline models were applied to explore the relationships among baseline data, childhood obesity, gut microbiota, and their metabolites. Results:The α diversity(ACE, Chao1, Shannon index) of intestinal flora in the obese group was significantly lower than that in the control group( P<0.05). The abundance of Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Acinetobacter, Ruminococcus, Clostridium, and Prevotella increased significantly, while the abundance of Bacteroidetes, Bifidobacterium, Akkermansia, Coprococcus, Streptobacter, and Eubacterium decreased significantly( P<0.05). The levels of butyrate, propionate, acetate, and total SCFAs in the obese group decreased significantly( P<0.05). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that parental obesity and snack consumption frequency were positively related to the abundance of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria in children′s gut, but negatively related to the abundance of Proteobacteria. As for Bacteroidetes, butyrate and propionate levels, they were negatively linked to exercise time, eating rate, and birth weight, and also positively related to Firmicutes. The results of correlation analysis showed that Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Anaerostipes, Acinetobacter, Ruminococcus, Clostridium, and Prevotella were significantly positively correlated with childhood obesity, while Bacteroidetes, Bifidobacterium, Akkermansia, butyrate, propionate, acetate, and total SCFAs were significantly negatively correlated with childhood obesity. Nonlinear analysis showed that butyrate, propionate, acetate, and Firmicutes/ Bacteroidetes were nonlinearly correlated with the occurrence of obesity( P<0.05). Conclusion:Childhood obesity is closely related to reduced gut microbiota diversity, altered abundances of specific microbial taxa, and reduced levels of SCFA. Modulating gut microbiota may provide novel microbial targets for obesity prevention and treatment.
