Thick <i>vs</i>. thin tongue coatings in hemodialysis patients: unveiling gut microbiome dysregulation and systemic health implications.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances are prevalent in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients and are closely associated with gut microbiota dysregulation. Tongue coating thickness, a key diagnostic feature in traditional Chinese medicine, may reflect systemic and microbial health. This study aimed to explore the relationship between tongue coating phenotype and gut microbiota composition in MHD patients.

Methods

A matched case-control study was conducted involving 30 MHD patients divided into thick (HTZ, n = 15) and thin (BTZ, n = 15) tongue coating groups, along with 15 healthy controls (DZZ). Fecal samples were analyzed via 16S rRNA sequencing to assess microbial diversity, taxonomic profiles, and predicted functional pathways.

Results

Alpha-diversity indi

SUBMITTER: Wang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12515952 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature