AG and RS4 induced clear, structure-specific shifts in microbiome composition (incl. distinct Bifidobacterium spp.) and SCFAs. But these āprebiotic-likeā changes did not explain most physiological outcomes.
To answer those, we compared two fermentable fibres ā acacia gum (AG; n=75) and resistant starch type 4 (RS4; n=75) ā with a non-fermentable control (MCC; n=45) in adults with excess body weight, integrating clinical outcomes with microbiome, metabolomic, and genomic profiling.
Some outcomes were microbiome-linked: ā¢ AG ā ghrelin, linked to shifts in microbial CAZyme genes targeting AGās specific glycan structures. ā¢ ML models predicted BP improvements with AG and CRP reductions with RS4 from microbial pathways and faecal bile acids.
LBP, calprotectin, TNF-Ī±, IL-6, and satiety improved across several groups ā including MCC ā with no detectable microbiome associations, indicating fermentation-independent mechanisms.
Benefits are target-specific, arise through microbiome-independent and microbiome-dependent mechanisms, and individualized effects can, in some cases, be predicted from microbiome features. Overall, this supports a more targed and personalized application of fibre supplements.
Conclusions: Although isolated fibres lack the intrinsic structural features of whole-food fibres and therefore show inconsistent population-level effects on cardiometabolic risk markers compared to whole-food approaches (see cell.com/cell/fulltex..., this does not mean they are ineffective.
New preprint on @medrxivpreprint.bsky.social from our 6-week RCT comparing two fermentable fibres with a non-fermentable control.
We asked:
ā¢ whether fibre effects depend on microbial fermentation
ā¢ and whether microbiome differences explain variable responses
š www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
How has obesity treatment evolved, and where is it heading?
Our new review in Obesity explores:
ā The central role of nutrition
ā Precision medicine & microbiome strategies
ā Integration with emerging therapies
Read here onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
#Obesity #Nutrition #PrecisionMedicine
Multicenter RCT in @lancetgastrohep.bsky.social:
FMT (with live microbes) prevents recurrent C. diff far better than fecal filtrates.
Thanks to Dina Kao (@ualberta.bsky.social) & @tsbschm.bsky.social from
@apcmicrobiomeirel.bsky.social), and whole team.
š authors.elsevier.com/c/1lphg8nByr...
Big thanks to first authors Anissa Armet and Fuyong Li, team members, and the many collaborators, across @ualberta.bsky.social, @uminnpress.bsky.social, @unihohenheim.bsky.social, Nestle, @apcmicrobiomeirel.bsky.social, @ucc.ie, and @uccmicrobiology.bsky.social.
