Gut Microbiota, Short Chain Fatty Acids, and Adiposity Across The Epidemiological Transition

The objective of this study is to define associations between gut microbiota, SCFAs and obesity in populations spanning the epidemiologic transition, and explore mechanisms by which these factors may independently and collectively influence the development of obesity. The central hypothesis of this study is that the composition of gut microbiota drives SCFA production which in turn influences obesity risk at the population-level.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Obesity; Diabetes
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Diet and physical activity monitoring

Detailed Description

The objective of this study is to define associations between gut microbiota, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and obesity in populations spanning the epidemiologic transition, and explore mechanisms by which these factors may independently and collectively influence the development of obesity. The gut microbiota and SCFAs have been associated with obesity, yet the causal mechanisms are unknown, as are the individual obesogenic effects of the individual SCFAs (butyrate, acetate and propionate). Existing studies are, limited by contradictory findings, small sample sizes, limited and imprecise measurements of obesity, and lack of detailed dietary and other environmental exposures/mediators. The investigators propose to overcome these challenges by leveraging an existing cohort of five diverse, well-defined populations from the Modeling the Epidemiologic Transition Study (METS, R01-DK080763). METS is comprised of a cohort of 2,500 African-origin adults, living in 5 distinctly different environments; Ghana, South Africa, Jamaica, the Seychelles and the US, and who have been prospectively followed since 2010. Our preliminary data suggest that while gut microbiota and SCFAs differences exist across sites, similar relationships exist across the sites for gut microbiota/SCFAs adiposity effects. In addition to yearly health measurements; the investigators propose to measure gut microbiota and stool SCFAs in all participants (2500) during the first year of the current study, thus providing one of the largest gut microbiota population-based studies to date. We will divide our cohort of 2500 individuals into 2 sets: (1) a test set of 1000 participants to explore which gut microorganisms and stool SCFAs are associated with adiposity; (2) a validation set of 1500 participants to independently verify the biomarkers identified in the test set, thus minimizing spurious correlations due to large number of features (e.g., bacterial taxa). The investigators will follow all 2500 participants for 3 years to assess weight and adiposity changes, using Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression modeling to explore whether changes can be predicted by gut microbiota and SCFAs factors. Finally, using a causal mediation analysis, the investigators will identify the direct and indirect effect of single and/or cumulative gut microbiota on adiposity as mediated by SCFA. The investigators will thus capitalize upon an existing, extensively well described cohort of adults of African-origin, with significant variability as a result of the widespread geographic distributions, and therefore variation in the environmental covariate exposures. The proposed study will substantially advance the understanding of the role gut microbiota and SCFAs play in the development of obesity and provide novel obesity therapeutic targets targeting SCFAs producing features of the gut microbiota.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 2000

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Illinois
    • Maywood, Illinois, United States, 60153
      • Loyola University Chicago

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 50 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study is comprises a complex samples population based approach drawn from communities in 5 countries: Ghana, Seychelles, South Africa, Jamaica and the US. Approximately 500 participants are enrolled per site for an unweighted total of 2500 participants.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Identify as African American or Black
• Age 18-50

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnancy, nursing, or planning to become pregnant
• Movement disorders or other disability that limits mobility

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
African origin adults; African origin adults from Ghana, Jamaica, Seychelles, South Africa and USA between the ages of 30- 50.	Behavioral: Diet and physical activity monitoring; Lifestyle monitoring

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
BMI	Difference in body weight index (BMI) between high and low activity energy expenditure (AEE) groups.	24 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Loyola University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Luke A, Bovet P, Forrester TE, Lambert EV, Plange-Rhule J, Schoeller DA, Dugas LR, Durazo-Arvizu RA, Shoham D, Cooper RS, Brage S, Ekelund U, Steyn NP. Protocol for the modeling the epidemiologic transition study: a longitudinal observational study of energy balance and change in body weight, diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk. BMC Public Health. 2011 Dec 14;11:927. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-11-927.
• Dugas LR, Lie L, Plange-Rhule J, Bedu-Addo K, Bovet P, Lambert EV, Forrester TE, Luke A, Gilbert JA, Layden BT. Gut microbiota, short chain fatty acids, and obesity across the epidemiologic transition: the METS-Microbiome study protocol. BMC Public Health. 2018 Aug 6;18(1):978. doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-5879-6.

Helpful Links

• METS microbiome project website

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 2, 2018
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 1, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 14, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 14, 2017
• First Posted (Actual): December 20, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 19, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 18, 2024
• Last Verified: March 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Overweight; Body Weight; Obesity
• Other Study ID Numbers: 209537

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No