Smoking cessation induces profound changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiota in humans.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The human intestinal microbiota is a crucial factor in the pathogenesis of various diseases, such as metabolic syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Yet, knowledge about the role of environmental factors such as smoking (which is known to influence theses aforementioned disease states) on the complex microbial composition is sparse. We aimed to investigate the role of smoking cessation on intestinal microbial composition in 10 healthy smoking subjects undergoing controlled smoking cessation.

Methods

During the observational period of 9 weeks repetitive stool samples were collected. Based on abundance of 16S rRNA genes bacterial composition was analysed and compared to 10 control subjects (5 continuing smokers and 5 non-smokers) by means of Terminal Restric

SUBMITTER: Biedermann L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3597605 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature