Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 29, 2026
A Method to Assess Bacteriocin Effects on the Gut Microbiota of Mice
Published on: July 25, 2017
The causal relationship between brown rice, gut microbiota, and blood lipid levels: Insights from Mendelian
Qi Zheng1, Yuetong Li2, Wenfeng Zhu1
1State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
Background:
There exists a certain correlation between brown rice preference, gut microbiota, and blood lipid levels, but the causal relationship among them remains unclear.
Methods:
Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted to investigate the causal relationships between brown rice preference, gut microbiota and blood lipid level. Further mediation MR analysis was performed to explore whether specific gut microbiota mediate the effect of brown rice intake on blood lipid levels.
Results:
MR analysis identified causal relationships between brown rice preference and 12 gut microbiota species. Mediation MR analysis revealed that brown rice intake may increases high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels by decreasing the abundance of Brevibacillus B, with a mediated effect of 8.35%.
Conclusion:
The intake of brown rice can reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) levels, and increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels by lowering Brevibacillus B levels.
Related Concept Videos
01:52Regression Toward the Mean
01:22Gut-Brain Axis