Gut microbiota and voluntary alcohol consumption.

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Neuroscience
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Alcohol consumption varies significantly among individuals.
• The role of the intestinal microbiota (IMB) in modulating alcohol consumption patterns remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between IMB composition and alcohol consumption patterns in humans.
• To determine the causal role of IMB in alcohol consumption using a rat model.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of IMB composition and alcohol consumption in 507 humans.
• Fecal microbiota transplantation, antibiotic treatment, and behavioral analysis in 80 male Wistar rats.
• Bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing for microbial identification and quantification.

Main Results:

• Heavy episodic drinking in humans correlated with a specific stool type (Bristol Stool Scale type 1) and increased Actinobacteria abundance.
• Fecal microbiota transplantation from alcohol-intoxicated rats to recipients led to increased voluntary alcohol consumption in recipients.
• Antibiotic-induced gut microbiota depletion significantly reduced alcohol consumption in rats and altered the abundance of major bacterial phyla.

Conclusions:

• The intestinal microbiota plays a significant role in modulating voluntary alcohol consumption.
• Specific bacterial taxa, such as Porphyromonas, may be associated with alcohol consumption behaviors.
• Targeting the gut microbiota presents a potential avenue for interventions related to alcohol use disorders.