TY - JOUR
T1 - Association between gut microbiome profiles and host metabolic health across the life course
T2 - a population-based study
AU - Li, Ruolin
AU - Kurilshikov, Alexander
AU - Yang, Shuyue
AU - van Oortmerssen, Julie A E
AU - van Hilten, Arno
AU - Ahmadizar, Fariba
AU - Roshchupkin, Gennady
AU - Kraaij, Robert
AU - Duijts, Liesbeth
AU - Fu, Jingyuan
AU - Ikram, M Kamran
AU - Jaddoe, Vincent W V
AU - Uitterlinden, André G
AU - Rivadeneira, Fernando
AU - Kavousi, Maryam
AU - Zhernakova, Alexandra
AU - Medina-Gomez, Carolina
N1 - © 2024 The Author(s).
PY - 2025/3
Y1 - 2025/3
N2 - BACKGROUND: The human gut microbiome changes considerably over time. Previous studies have shown that gut microbiome profiles correlate with multiple metabolic traits. As disease development is likely a lifelong process, evidence gathered at different life stages would help gain a better understanding of this correlation. Therefore, we aim to investigate how the association of the gut microbiome and metabolic traits change over the lifespan.METHODS: We identified microbiome patterns (clusters) within two population-based cohorts at different life stages, i.e., pre-adolescents of the Generation R Study (mean age 9.8 years; n = 1488) and older adults of the Rotterdam Study (RS, mean age 62.7 years; n = 1265) using K-Means clustering, and surveyed for host metabolic phenotypes, lifestyles and other factors driving these patterns. Analyses were replicated in the Lifelines-DEEP Study (mean age 45.0 years; n = 1117). The association between microbiome clusters and host metabolic health was evaluated as well as the link between microbiome clusters and incident atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in RS during follow-up (median 6.5 years).FINDINGS: We identified two distinct microbiome clusters (U and H) within each study population presenting contrasting metabolic statuses. Cluster U was characterized by lower microbiome diversity, increased Streptococcus, Fusicatenibacter, and decreased Prevotella_9 and Christensenellaceae_R-7_group; wherein individuals showed higher fat percentage, triglycerides, use of medications, and lower socioeconomic status. Individuals in cluster U had increased odds (between 1.10 and 1.65) of being relatively metabolically unhealthy and presented a higher 5-year ASCVD risk (mean risk 0.059 ± 0.071 vs 0.047 ± 0.042, p < 0.001). INTERPRETATION: We provide evidence of a life-course relationship between gut microbiome profiles and metabolic health.FUNDING: R.L is supported by European UnionHorizon 2020 research and innovation program under Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 860898 [FIDELIO].
AB - BACKGROUND: The human gut microbiome changes considerably over time. Previous studies have shown that gut microbiome profiles correlate with multiple metabolic traits. As disease development is likely a lifelong process, evidence gathered at different life stages would help gain a better understanding of this correlation. Therefore, we aim to investigate how the association of the gut microbiome and metabolic traits change over the lifespan.METHODS: We identified microbiome patterns (clusters) within two population-based cohorts at different life stages, i.e., pre-adolescents of the Generation R Study (mean age 9.8 years; n = 1488) and older adults of the Rotterdam Study (RS, mean age 62.7 years; n = 1265) using K-Means clustering, and surveyed for host metabolic phenotypes, lifestyles and other factors driving these patterns. Analyses were replicated in the Lifelines-DEEP Study (mean age 45.0 years; n = 1117). The association between microbiome clusters and host metabolic health was evaluated as well as the link between microbiome clusters and incident atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in RS during follow-up (median 6.5 years).FINDINGS: We identified two distinct microbiome clusters (U and H) within each study population presenting contrasting metabolic statuses. Cluster U was characterized by lower microbiome diversity, increased Streptococcus, Fusicatenibacter, and decreased Prevotella_9 and Christensenellaceae_R-7_group; wherein individuals showed higher fat percentage, triglycerides, use of medications, and lower socioeconomic status. Individuals in cluster U had increased odds (between 1.10 and 1.65) of being relatively metabolically unhealthy and presented a higher 5-year ASCVD risk (mean risk 0.059 ± 0.071 vs 0.047 ± 0.042, p < 0.001). INTERPRETATION: We provide evidence of a life-course relationship between gut microbiome profiles and metabolic health.FUNDING: R.L is supported by European UnionHorizon 2020 research and innovation program under Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 860898 [FIDELIO].
U2 - 10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.101195
DO - 10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.101195
M3 - Article
C2 - 39834614
SN - 2666-7762
VL - 50
JO - The Lancet Regional Health - Europe
JF - The Lancet Regional Health - Europe
M1 - 101195
ER -