Weight gain in anorexia nervosa does not ameliorate the faecal microbiota, branched chain fatty acid profiles and gastrointestinal complaints

• DOI: 10.1038/srep26752
• Publication Date: 2016-05-27T09:58:21Z
• Authors: Isabelle Mack; Ulrich Cuntz; Claudia Grämer; Sabrina Niedermaier; Charlotte Pohl; Andreas Schwiertz; Kurt Zimmermann; Stephan Zipfel; Paul Enck; John Penders
• Keywords: Roseburia; Short-chain fatty acid

The gut microbiota not only influences host metabolism but can also affect brain function and behaviour through the microbiota-gut-brain axis. To explore potential role of intestinal in anorexia nervosa (AN), we comprehensively investigated faecal short-chain fatty acids these patients before (n = 55) after weight gain 44) comparison to normal-weight participants (NW, n along with dietary intake gastrointestinal complaints. We show profound microbial perturbations AN as compared NW participants, higher levels mucin-degraders members Clostridium clusters I, XI XVIII reduced butyrate-producing Roseburia spp. Branched-chain acid concentrations, being markers for protein fermentation, were elevated. Distinct community compositions observed individual restrictive binge/purging AN-subtypes. Upon gain, richness increased, however short chain profiles addition several symptoms did recover. These insights provide new leads modulate order improve outcomes standard therapy.