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Updated: Jun 7, 2026

An In Vitro Batch-culture Model to Estimate the Effects of Interventional Regimens on Human Fecal Microbiota
Published on: July 31, 2019
Pilot study: alterations of intestinal microbiota in obese humans are not associated with colonic inflammation or
J Brignardello1, P Morales, E Diaz
1Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Background:
Obesity is associated with low-grade inflammation contributing to insulin-resistance. Gut barrier alterations, described in animal models of obesity, probably favour inflammation. This has not been hitherto described in obese humans.
Aim:
To evaluate gut permeability in asymptomatic obese and its association with plasma (C-reactive protein (CRP), arachidonate/eicosapentaenoate ratio) and faecal (calprotectin and leptin) markers of inflammation and microbiota alterations.
Methods:
A total of 13 obese (age: 33.9 ± 11.5 years; BMI: 35.9 ± 5.0 kg/m²) and 11 control subjects (age: 30.3 ± 8.1 years; BMI: 23.5 ± 2.4 kg/m²) were recruited. Gut permeability was assessed by the lactulose-mannitol-sucralose test, plasma fatty acids by gas chromatography, faecal calprotectin and leptin by Elisa and faecal microbiota by G+C profiling.
Results:
C-reactive protein was increased in the obese subjects (P = 0.01), but neither the plasma arachidonate/eicosapentaenoate ratio, the faecal levels of calprotectin and leptin, nor the gut permeability were altered. The faecal microbiota was altered in the obese (P = 0.0002), with predominance of bacterial populations having a lower G+C content and decreased concentrations of high G+C populations.
Conclusions:
Asymptomatic obese individuals with systemic low-grade inflammation do not have evidence of colonic inflammation or gut barrier alteration; however, the biodiversity of their intestinal microbiota is affected.
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