biostudies-literatureDugas LRU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)BLRD VAU.S. Department of Health &amp;amp; Human Services | National Institutes of HealthNIDDK NIH HHSU.S. Department of Health &amp; Human Services | National Institutes of Health (NIH)U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs17135https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6244201biostudies-literatureUnknown8(1)We compared the gut microbial populations in 100 women, from rural Ghana and urban US [50% lean (BMI < 25 kg/m²) and 50% obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²)] to examine the ecological co-occurrence network topology of the gut microbiota as well as the relationship of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) with obesity. Ghanaians consumed significantly more dietary fiber, had greater microbial alpha-diversity, different beta-diversity, and had a greater concentration of total fecal SCFAs (p-value < 0.002). Lean Ghanaians had significantly greater network density, connectivity and stability than either obese Ghanaians, or lean and obese US participants (false discovery rate (FDR) corrected p-value ≤ 0.01). Bacteroides uniformis was significantly more abundant in lean women, irrespective ofScientific reportsDecreased microbial co-occurrence network stability and SCFA receptor level correlates with obesity in African-origin women.PMC6244201R01 DK111848R01 DK0903601I01BX003382R01 DK105118R01-DK111848080763R01-Dk104927I01 BX003382R01-DK080763R01 DK080763R01 DK104927Priyadarshini MNelson DDugas LRDong QGilbert JAFei NBernabe BPToh ECLayden BTBrown LKliethermes SGottel NLuke APlange-Rhule JGao XPark SJSun JfalseDecreased microbial co-occurrence network stability and SCFA receptor level correlates with obesity in African-origin women.We compared the gut microbial populations in 100 women, from rural Ghana and urban US [50% lean (BMI < 25 kg/m²) and 50% obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²)] to examine the ecological co-occurrence network topology of the gut microbiota as well as the relationship of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) with obesity. Ghanaians consumed significantly more dietary fiber, had greater microbial alpha-diversity, different beta-diversity, and had a greater concentration of total fecal SCFAs (p-value < 0.002). Lean Ghanaians had significantly greater network density, connectivity and stability than either obese Ghanaians, or lean and obese US participants (false discovery rate (FDR) corrected p-value ≤ 0.01). Bacteroides uniformis was significantly more abundant in lean women, irrespective of2018-01-01T00:00:00Z2018 Nov2026-07-16T13:22:57.412Z2025-05-31T23:30:23.135ZS-EPMC62442013045932010.1038/s41598-018-35230-9