biostudies-literatureZheng W“1000 Talent” program of ChinaNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaBeijing Natural Science Foundation20https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6509798biostudies-literatureUnknown11<h4>Background</h4>Gut microbiota affects lipid metabolism interactively with diet. Equol, a metabolite of isoflavones produced by gut bacteria, may contribute substantially in beneficial lipid-lowering effects. This study aimed to examine equol production-related gut microbiota differences among humans and its consequent association with blood lipid levels.<h4>Results</h4>Characterization of the gut microbiota by deep shotgun sequencing and serum lipid profiles were compared between equol producers and non-producers. Gut microbiota differed significantly at the community level between equol producers and non-producers (P = 0.0062). At the individual level, 32 species associated with equol production were identified. Previously reported equol-producing related species <i>Adlercreutzia equolifaciens</i> and <i>Bifidobacterium bifidum</i> showed relatively higher abundance in this study in equol producers compared to non-producers (77.5% vs. 22.5%; 72.0% vs. 28.0%, respectively). Metabolic pathways also showed significant dissimilarity between equol producers and non-producers (P = 0.001), and seven metabolic pathways were identified to be associated with the equol concentration in urine. Previously reported equol production-related gene sequences in <i>A. equolifaciens</i> 19450T showed higher relative abundance in equol producers than in non-producers. Additionally, we found that equol production was significantly associated with the prevalence of dyslipidemia, including a marginal increase in serum lipids (27.1% vs. 50.0%, P = 0.02). Furthermore, equol production was not determined by intake of soy isoflavones, which suggested that gut microbiota is critical in the equol production process.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Both content and functioning of the microbial gut community significantly differed between equol producers and non-producers. Further, equol producers showed lower prevalences of dyslipidemia, which suggests the important role that equol might play in lipid metabolism by gut microbiota.Gut pathogensCompositional and functional differences in human gut microbiome with respect to equol production and its association with blood lipid level: a cross-sectional study.PMC6509798314712038157312981172653Z140001Pan ZLi JZhao AMao GMa YZheng WZhu BWang JLyu NLiu YHe TWang PZhang YfalseCompositional and functional differences in human gut microbiome with respect to equol production and its association with blood lipid level: a cross-sectional study.<h4>Background</h4>Gut microbiota affects lipid metabolism interactively with diet. Equol, a metabolite of isoflavones produced by gut bacteria, may contribute substantially in beneficial lipid-lowering effects. This study aimed to examine equol production-related gut microbiota differences among humans and its consequent association with blood lipid levels.<h4>Results</h4>Characterization of the gut microbiota by deep shotgun sequencing and serum lipid profiles were compared between equol producers and non-producers. Gut microbiota differed significantly at the community level between equol producers and non-producers (P = 0.0062). At the individual level, 32 species associated with equol production were identified. Previously reported equol-producing related species <i>Adlercreutzia equolifaciens</i> and <i>Bifidobacterium bifidum</i> showed relatively higher abundance in this study in equol producers compared to non-producers (77.5% vs. 22.5%; 72.0% vs. 28.0%, respectively). Metabolic pathways also showed significant dissimilarity between equol producers and non-producers (P = 0.001), and seven metabolic pathways were identified to be associated with the equol concentration in urine. Previously reported equol production-related gene sequences in <i>A. equolifaciens</i> 19450T showed higher relative abundance in equol producers than in non-producers. Additionally, we found that equol production was significantly associated with the prevalence of dyslipidemia, including a marginal increase in serum lipids (27.1% vs. 50.0%, P = 0.02). Furthermore, equol production was not determined by intake of soy isoflavones, which suggested that gut microbiota is critical in the equol production process.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Both content and functioning of the microbial gut community significantly differed between equol producers and non-producers. Further, equol producers showed lower prevalences of dyslipidemia, which suggests the important role that equol might play in lipid metabolism by gut microbiota.2019-01-01T00:00:00Z20192025-04-04T21:39:50.487Z2019-07-25T07:15:50ZS-EPMC65097983116832610.1186/s13099-019-0297-6