Influence of gender, age, and body mass index on the gut microbiota of individuals from South China.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The symbiotic gut microbiota is pivotal for human health, with its composition linked to various diseases and metabolic disorders. Despite its significance, there remains a gap in systematically evaluating how host phenotypes, such as gender, age, and body mass index (BMI), influence gut microbiota.

Methodology/principal findings

We conducted an analysis of the gut microbiota of 185 Chinese adults based on whole-metagenome shotgun sequencing of fecal samples. Our investigation focused on assessing the effects of gender, age, and BMI on gut microbiota across three levels: diversity, gene/phylogenetic composition, and functional composition. Our findings suggest that these phenotypes have a minor impact on shaping the gut microbiome compared to enterotypes, they do

SUBMITTER: Li S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11560914 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature