Association of Gut Microbiota-Derived Short-Chain Fatty Acids With Persistent Elevated Serum Transaminase Levels in Normal Weight and Obesity: A Pilot Study


Por: de Sandy-Galán, DAD, Villamil-Ramirez, H, Rodriguez-Cruz, M, López-Contreras, B, León-Mimila, P, Olivares-Arevalo, M, Maldonado-Hernández, J, Dominguez-Calderon, I, Salmerón, J, Cerqueda-Garcia, D, Villarreal-Molina, T, Velázquez-Cruz, R, Canizales-Quinteros, S

Publicada: 1 ene 2025
Resumen:
Although obesity is the most common risk factor for hepatic steatosis, this disease may occur in normal-weight individuals. While gut microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) have been associated with obesity and metabolic disease, the relationship among fecal SCFA concentrations, SCFA-producing bacteria, and hepatic steatosis with and without obesity is not fully understood. This pilot study aimed to compare fecal SCFA concentrations and SCFA-producing gut bacteria in four study groups: 7 individuals with normal-weight and normal alanine aminotransferase levels (Nw-N ALT), 7 individuals with normal-weight and elevated ALT levels (Nw-E ALT), 12 individuals with obesity and normal ALT levels and (Ob-N ALT), and 18 individuals with obesity and elevated ALT levels (Ob-E ALT). Fecal SCFA concentrations were quantified using gas chromatography, and gut microbiota was characterized by sequencing 16S rRNA. Median fecal SCFA concentrations (propionate, butyrate, and valerate) were highest in the Ob-E ALT group and lowest in the Nw-N ALT group (p < 0.05). These SCFA concentrations were also higher in obese than in normal-weight individuals regardless of ALT levels (p < 0.05) and in elevated ALT individuals regardless of obesity status, although the difference lost significance after correction for multiple testing. Notably, the abundance of Roseburia was higher in Ob-N ALT and Ob-E ALT than in the Nw-N ALT group and correlated positively with fecal SCFA concentrations. In conclusion, this pilot study suggests that the presence of both obesity and persistent elevated serum ALT levels is associated with increased fecal SCFA concentrations and SCFA-producing bacteria, particularly Roseburia. However, a larger sample is required to define whether the associations of SCFA fecal levels with obesity and elevated ALT levels are independent.

Filiaciones:
de Sandy-Galán, DAD:
 Natl Autonomous Univ Mexico UNAM, Natl Inst Genom Med INMEGEN, Sch Chem, Dept Biol,Unit Populat Genom Appl Hlth,Dept Biol, Mexico City 14610, Mexico

Villamil-Ramirez, H:
 Natl Autonomous Univ Mexico UNAM, Natl Inst Genom Med INMEGEN, Sch Chem, Dept Biol,Unit Populat Genom Appl Hlth,Dept Biol, Mexico City 14610, Mexico

Rodriguez-Cruz, M:
 Mexican Social Secur Inst IMSS, Pediat Hosp, Natl Med Ctr 21 Century, Med Nutr Res Unit,Lab Mol Nutr, Mexico City 06720, Mexico

López-Contreras, B:
 Natl Autonomous Univ Mexico UNAM, Natl Inst Genom Med INMEGEN, Sch Chem, Dept Biol,Unit Populat Genom Appl Hlth,Dept Biol, Mexico City 14610, Mexico

León-Mimila, P:
 Natl Autonomous Univ Mexico UNAM, Natl Inst Genom Med INMEGEN, Sch Chem, Dept Biol,Unit Populat Genom Appl Hlth,Dept Biol, Mexico City 14610, Mexico

Olivares-Arevalo, M:
 Natl Autonomous Univ Mexico UNAM, Natl Inst Genom Med INMEGEN, Sch Chem, Dept Biol,Unit Populat Genom Appl Hlth,Dept Biol, Mexico City 14610, Mexico

Maldonado-Hernández, J:
 Mexican Social Secur Inst IMSS, Pediat Hosp, Natl Med Ctr 21 Century, Med Nutr Res Unit,Lab Mol Nutr, Mexico City 06720, Mexico

Dominguez-Calderon, I:
 Mexican Social Secur Inst IMSS, Pediat Hosp, Natl Med Ctr 21 Century, Med Nutr Res Unit,Lab Mol Nutr, Mexico City 06720, Mexico

Salmerón, J:
 Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Res Ctr Pol Populat & Hlth, Sch Med, Mexico City 04510, Mexico

Cerqueda-Garcia, D:
 Ecol Inst AC, Biorat Pest & Vector Management Network, Biomim Sci & Technol Cluster, Xalapa 91073, Mexico

Villarreal-Molina, T:
 INMEGEN, Genom Cardiovasc Dis Lab, Mexico City 14610, Mexico

Velázquez-Cruz, R:
 INMEGEN, Genom Bone Metab Lab, Mexico City 14610, Mexico

Canizales-Quinteros, S:
 Natl Autonomous Univ Mexico UNAM, Natl Inst Genom Med INMEGEN, Sch Chem, Dept Biol,Unit Populat Genom Appl Hlth,Dept Biol, Mexico City 14610, Mexico
ISSN: 20900724
Editorial
Hindawi Limited, 111 RIVER ST, HOBOKEN 07030-5774, NJ USA, Egipto
Tipo de documento: Article
Volumen: 2025 Número: 1
Páginas:
WOS Id: 001576155000001
ID de PubMed: 41019148
imagen Green Submitted, gold, All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Accepted Open Access; Green Open Access

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