New pathways to obesity prevention and metabolic health : the relationship between diet and the gut microbiome : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Nutritional Science at Massey University, Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa New Zealand
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Date
2020
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Massey University
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Abstract
Background
Diet is one of the key drivers of the global obesity epidemic. Based on the results of rodent
experiments, the gut microbiota may play an important role in this multifaceted disease.
Additionally, the microbiota is known to be influenced by the habitual diets consumed by
humans.
Aims and objectives
The aim of this PhD research was to characterise the habitual dietary intake of two New Zealand populations (Pacific and New Zealand European (NZE) women) with different metabolic disease risk and body fat profiles (lean and obese). The first objective of the research was to explore the relationship between habitual macronutrient intake in relation to body fat content and metabolic health markers. The second objective was to characterise a posteriori dietary patterns (derived from multiple days of dietary assessment) and to explore the association with body fat content and metabolic health markers. The third objective was
to explore the characteristics of microbiota composition in relation to habitual diet (dietary
patterns, foods, and nutrients), body fat content and metabolic health markers.
Methods
Between July 2016 and September 2017, Pacific (n=126) and NZE (n=161) women, aged 18-45
years, living in Auckland, New Zealand, were recruited to a cross-sectional study, based on
their body mass index (lean and obese) and stratified as having low (<35 % body fat) or high
(≥35 % body fat) body fat percentage (BF%). Dietary intake was assessed using a 5-day
estimated, non-consecutive, food record and a validated semi-quantitative food frequency
questionnaire, which were used to calculate habitual dietary intake using the National Cancer
Institute (NCI) method. Body composition and BF% were assessed by dual-energy x-ray
absorptiometry. Fasting blood samples were analysed for metabolic biomarkers (lipid and
glucose profiles). Bulk DNA was extracted from faecal samples and the metagenomic sequences associated with the microbiota were analysed using MetaPhlAN and QIIME2 software. Enterotypes characterising the microbiotas of the participants were predicted in R and the species that defined enterotypes were determined using STAMP software. A posteriori dietary patterns were identified using principal component analysis. Adjusted multivariate regression models were conducted to explore the association between BF% and habitual macronutrient intake and adherence to dietary patterns, as well as the association between microbiota composition and habitual diet.
Results
There were no significant differences in BF% between Pacific and NZE women (p=0.498).
Higher energy adjusted habitual dietary fibre (DF) intake was associated with lower BF% (β= -0.35, p≤ 0.001) for both Pacific and NZE women, and this relationship became stronger after
further adjustments for protein (g/day), total carbohydrate (g/day), and total fat (g/day)
intake (β= -0.47, p≤ 0.001). Women in the highest tertile of DF intake were older, had lower
concentrations of fasting plasma insulin, and lower socioeconomic deprivation levels. Four
dietary patterns that explained 30.9 % of the observed variance in habitual diet were
identified. Higher adherence to dietary patterns characterised by core foods (the “colourful
vegetable, plant protein, and dairy” and “fruit, starchy vegetables, and nuts” patterns) were
inversely associated with BF%. In contrast, patterns characterised by more ‘discretionary’
foods (“sweet and fat rich carbohydrate”) and less diversity of core foods (“animal meat and fat”) were positively associated with BF% for both Pacific and NZE women. Three enterotypes
were identified by higher relative abundance of specific bacterial species: enterotype 1 was
characterised by Pacific and NZE women (n=146) and the abundances of Faecalibacterium
prausnitzii and Eubacterium rectale. Enterotype 2 (n=70) was characterised by Pacific women,
Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and Lactobacillus ruminis; and by
higher BF%, visceral adipose tissue, and concentrations of fasting insulin. Enterotype 3 (n=70) was predominately found in older NZE women with lower deprivation, and characterised by Akkermansia muciniphila, Ruminococcus bromii, Subdoligranulum species, and
Methanobrevibacter smithii. Adherence to the “colourful vegetables, plant protein, and dairy”
dietary pattern was positively associated with enterotypes 1 and 3 and negatively with
enterotype 2.
Conclusion
Consuming more core foods rich in dietary fibre was associated with enterotypes 1 and 3,
including lower adiposity and metabolic disease risks. In contrast, consuming more discretionary foods was associated with enterotype 2, higher adiposity and metabolic disease risks. This PhD research highlights habitual diet-microbiota-host associations, which are similar for a population of women with different metabolic disease risk, body fat profiles, and deprivation levels. Whether the microbiota is a cause or consequence of metabolic health has yet to be elucidated. However, habitually consuming more core foods rich in dietary fibre is associated with microbiota composition, and lower metabolic disease risks.
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Keywords
Food habits, New Zealand, Women, Health and hygiene, Body composition, Metabolism, Disorders, Gastrointestinal system