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Published on: July 5, 2024
The gut microbial profile and circulating metabolism are associated with functional constipation in children
Xiaolin Ye1, Tianzhuo Zhang1, Jin Zhou1
1Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China.
Insights
Pediatric functional constipation (FC) is linked to gut microbiome changes and altered bile acid metabolism. Targeting these disruptions may offer new treatments for childhood constipation.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Microbiology
- Metabolomics
Background:
- Gut microbiome dysbiosis is implicated in constipation.
- The specific role of gut microbiota and its metabolic interactions in pediatric functional constipation (FC) is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gut microbiota alterations and metabolic pathway changes in children with FC.
- To explore the relationship between gut microbiota, bile acid metabolism, and functional constipation in pediatric populations.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 40 children with FC and 40 healthy controls.
- Utilized 16S rRNA and metagenomic sequencing for gut microbiota analysis.
- Performed targeted metabolomic sequencing to analyze serum metabolite levels.
Main Results:
- Children with FC showed reduced gut microbiota diversity with increased Bacteroides and Prevotella, and depleted Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.
- Metabolomic analysis revealed differences in bile acid (BA) metabolites, such as taurine and glycochenodeoxycholic acid, between FC and control groups.
- Altered metabolite levels correlated with specific bacterial abundances and intestinal dysfunction in FC patients.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric FC is associated with distinct gut microbiota alterations and dysregulated bile acid metabolism.
- These findings suggest that impaired BA metabolism contributes to functional constipation mechanisms in children.
- Modulating the gut microbiome and BA metabolism presents potential therapeutic strategies for FC management.
Background:
A growing body of evidence highlights the link between gut microbiome imbalances and constipation. However, the role of gut microbiota and its metabolic interactions in pediatric functional constipation (FC) remains incompletely understood.
Methods:
We recruited a total of 40 children with FC and 40 healthy children (CONT). 16SrRNA and metagenomic sequencing were used to evaluate the changes in the gut microbiota structure and gene function in FC patients. Differences in serum metabolite levels were analyzed via targeted metabolomic sequencing.
Results:
The FC group exhibited a decrease in gut microbiota diversity, an increase in Bacteroides and Prevotella abundances, depletion of genera such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium and an imbalance of related metabolic activities. Metabolomic analysis revealed that the levels of several metabolites, including taurine and glycochenodeoxycholic acid, which are involved in bile acid (BA) metabolic pathways, differed between the FC and CONT groups. Differences in metabolite levels were associated with changes in the abundances of specific bacteria and with intestinal dysfunction in FC patients.
Conclusion:
FC in children is associated with distinct gut microbiota alterations and dysregulated BA metabolism. These findings provide potential therapeutic targets for modulating the gut microbiome and metabolic pathways in FC management.
Impact:
This study offers a comprehensive perspective on the intricate relationship between microbial composition and metabolic pathways in the context of functional constipation in children. This study focuses on children, highlighting how disruptions in bile acid metabolism due to gut microbiota disorders are linked to the occurrence of functional constipation. These findings suggest that disturbances in bile acid metabolism may play a role in the mechanisms underlying functional constipation by impairing intestinal secretion and transport functions. This study offers a new way to study the effects of the gut microbiota, bile acid metabolism, and the gut‒brain axis.
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