Diet Quality and the Fecal Microbiota in Healthy Adults in the American Gut Project. (7th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Baldeon, Alexis; Lovett, Jordan; Pan, Ziyang; Holscher, Hannah
• Is Part Of: Current developments in nutrition. Volume 5(2021)Supplement 2
• Page Start: 1149
• Page End: 1149
• Publication Date: 2021-06-07
• Subjects: Nutrition -- Periodicals; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Nutrition; Periodicals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; 612.3
• DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzab054_004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2475-2991

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: The human gastrointestinal microbiota contributes to the relationship between diet and health via microbial metabolism of undigested food components. Thus, it is valuable to understand the relations between gut microorganisms and diet quality. Herein, we examined the associations between the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015 and the fecal microbiota in a subset of healthy adults in the American Gut Project (AGP) cohort. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of healthy adults ( n = 1162 (759 females); BMI: 18.5–29.9 kg/m 2 ; 18–65 years of age) from the AGP cohort who provided a stool sample and a time-matched Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ; VioScreen). Fecal samples were processed by the AGP lab. Briefly, DNA was extracted from the stool samples, and the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced. HEI-2015 scores were calculated using VioScreen's report of HEI-2010 scores and nutrient component percentages. The cohort was divided into tertiles based on Total Score, and components Whole Grains, Dairy, Fatty Acids, Sodium, and Saturated Fats. Differential abundance analysis was conducted using ANCOM-BC, comparing the high (T3) tertile to the low (T1) tertile for all categories. Comparisons that were statistically significant following FDR corrections are reported (q < 0.05). Results: Comparing T3 to T1, there were greater abundances of Bifidobacterium across all HEI-2015 categories. Similarly, Dialister, Haemophilus, and Veillonella were greater across Total Score, Whole Grains, and Dairy; Streptococcus was greater across Total Score and Dairy; and Lachnospira, and Coprococcus were greater in Total Score. There was a lower abundance of Ruminococcus from the Lachnospiraceae family in the T3 group for Total Score and Whole Grains; and of Peptococcaceae rc4–4, and an unknown genus of the Mogibacteriaceae family in Saturated Fats. Conclusions: These results reveal that individuals that consume a higher quality diet, as evidenced by higher HEI-2015 Total Score, and Whole Grains, Dairy, and Saturated Fats component scores, have greater abundances of bacteria linked with carbohydrate fermentation and lower abundances of bacteria related to inflammation and a Western dietary pattern. Funding Sources: USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Hatch Project 1009249.