Dietary Patterns Are Associated with the Gut Microbiome and Metabolic Syndrome in Mexican Postmenopausal Women

Postmenopausal women are at an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS) due to hormonal changes and lifestyle factors. Gut microbiota (GM) have been linked to the development of MetS, and they are influenced by dietary habits. However, the interactions between dietary patterns (DP) and the GM of postmenopausal women, as well as their influence on MetS, still need to be understood. The present study evaluated the DP and microbiota composition of postmenopausal Mexican women with MetS and those in a control group. Diet was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire, and the GM were profiled using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Greater adherence to a “healthy” DP was significantly associated with lower values of MetS risk factors. GM diversity was diminished in women with MetS, and it was negatively influenced by an “unhealthy” DP. Moreover, a higher intake of fats and proteins, as well as lower amounts of carbohydrates, showed a reduction in some of the short-chain fatty acid-producing genera in women with MetS, as well as increases in some harmful bacteria. Furthermore, Roseburia abundance was positively associated with dietary fat and waist circumference, which may explain 7.5% of the relationship between this macronutrient and MetS risk factors. These findings suggest that GM and diet interactions are important in the development of MetS in postmenopausal Mexican women

Genetic contributors to serum uric acid levels in Mexicans and their effect on premature coronary artery disease

© 2018 Elsevier B.V.Background: Serum uric acid (SUA) is a heritable trait associated with cardiovascular risk factors and coronary artery disease (CAD). Genome wide association studies (GWAS) have identified several genes associated with SUA, mainly in European populations. However, to date there are few GWAS in Latino populations, and the role of SUA-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in cardiovascular disease has not been studied in the Mexican population. Methods: We performed genome-wide SUA association study in 2153 Mexican children and adults, evaluated whether genetic effects were modified by sex and obesity, and used a Mendelian randomization approach in an independent cohort to study the role of SUA modifying genetic variants in premature CAD. Results: Only two loci were associated with SUA levels: SLC2A9 (β = −0.47 mg/dl, P = 1.57 × 10−42 for lead SNP rs7678287) and ABCG2 (β = 0.23 mg/dl, P = 2.42 × 10−10 for lead SNP rs2231142). No significant interaction be

Low Salivary Amylase Gene (<i>AMY1</i>) Copy Number Is Associated with Obesity and Gut <i>Prevotella</i> Abundance in Mexican Children and Adults

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified copy number variants (CNVs) associated with obesity in chromosomal regions 1p31.1, 10q11.22, 11q11, 16p12.3, and recently 1p21.1, which contains the salivary amylase gene (AMY1). Recent evidence suggests this enzyme may influence gut microbiota composition through carbohydrate (mainly starch) degradation. The role of these CNVs in obesity has been scarcely explored in the Latino population, and thus the aim of our study was to evaluate the association of 1p31.1, 10q11.22, 11q11, 16p12.3 and 1p21.1 CNVs with obesity in 921 Mexican children, to replicate significant associations in 920 Mexican adults, and to analyze the association of AMY1 copy number with gut microbiota in 75 children and 45 adults. Of the five CNVs analyzed, 1q11 CNV was significantly associated with obesity in children, but not in adults. Only AMY1 CNV was significantly associated with obesity in both age groups. Moreover, gut microbiota analyses revealed a positive correlation between AMY1 copy number and Prevotella abundance. This genus has enzymes and gene clusters essential for complex polysaccharide degradation and utilization. To our knowledge, this is the first study to analyze the association of these five CNVs in the Mexican population and to report a correlation between AMY1 CN and gut microbiota in humans

Effect of Gut Microbial Enterotypes on the Association between Habitual Dietary Fiber Intake and Insulin Resistance Markers in Mexican Children and Adults

Dietary fiber (DF) is a major substrate for the gut microbiota that contributes to metabolic health. Recent studies have shown that diet–metabolic phenotype effect might be related to individual gut microbial profiles or enterotypes. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine whether microbial enterotypes modify the association between DF intake and metabolic traits. This cross-sectional study included 204 children (6–12 years old) and 75 adults (18–60 years old). Habitual DF intake was estimated with a Food Frequency Questionnaire and biochemical, clinical and anthropometric data were obtained. Gut microbiota was assessed through 16S sequencing and participants were stratified by enterotypes. Correlations adjusting for age and sex were performed to test the associations between dietary fiber components intake and metabolic traits. In children and adults from the Prevotella enterotype, a nominal negative correlation of hemicellulose intake with insulin and HOMA-IR levels was observed (p &lt; 0.05), while in individuals of the other enterotypes, these associations were not observed. Interestingly, the latter effect was not related to the fecal short-chain-fatty acids profile. Our results contribute to understanding the enterotype influence on the diet–phenotype interaction, which ultimate could provide evidence for their use as potential biomarkers for future precision nutrition strategies

Glucose homeostasis parameters in nondiabetic children and adult populations according to <i>PCSK1</i> rs6232.

<p>Data are means ± s.d. or medians (interquantile range). <i>P</i>-values were calculated by generalized linear regression. BMI was adjusted for age and gender. Plasma glucose/insulin levels and HOMA indices were adjusted for age, gender and BMI. HOMA-B, homeostasis model assessment of beta-cell function; HOMA-S, homeostasis model assessment of insulin sensitivity.</p

Association of the rs6232 and rs6235 with obesity in children and adult populations.

<p>Data are n (%). All odds ratios and <i>P</i>-values were calculated by logistic regression analyses using non-obese individuals as reference group, adjusting for age, sex and DT2. <i>P</i>_add, <i>P</i>-values for the additive model.</p

Glucose homeostasis parameters in nondiabetic children and adult populations according to <i>PCSK1</i> rs6235.

<p>Data are means ± s.d. or medians (interquantile range). <i>P_add</i>_-values were calculated by generalized linear regression using an additive model. BMI was adjusted for age and gender. Plasma glucose/insulin levels and HOMA indices were adjusted for age, gender and BMI. HOMA-B, homeostasis model assessment of beta-cell function; HOMA-S, homeostasis model assessment of insulin sensitivity.</p

Characteristics of the cases and controls in the children and adult populations.

<p>Data are means ± s.d. or medians (interquantile range). HOMA-B, homeostasis model assessment of beta-cell function; HOMA-S, homeostasis model assessment of insulin sensitivity.</p

<em>VNN1</em> Gene Expression Levels and the G-137T Polymorphism Are Associated with HDL-C Levels in Mexican Prepubertal Children

<div><h3>Background</h3><p><em>VNN1</em> gene expression levels and the G-137T polymorphism have been associated with high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in Mexican American adults. We aim to evaluate the contribution of <em>VNN1</em> gene expression and the G-137T variant to HDL-C levels and other metabolic traits in Mexican prepubertal children.</p> <h3>Methodology/Principal Findings</h3><p><em>VNN1</em> mRNA expression levels were quantified in peripheral blood leukocytes from 224 unrelated Mexican-Mestizo children aged 6–8 years (107 boys and 117 girls) and were genotyped for the G-137T variant (rs4897612). To account for population stratification, a panel of 10 ancestry informative markers was analyzed. After adjustment for admixture, the TT genotype was significantly associated with lower <em>VNN1</em> mRNA expression levels (<em>P</em> = 2.9 × 10⁻⁵), decreased HDL-C levels (β = −6.19, <em>P</em> = 0.028) and with higher body mass index (BMI) z-score (β = 0.48, <em>P</em> = 0.024) in the total sample. In addition, <em>VNN1</em> expression showed a positive correlation with HDL-C levels (r = 0.220; <em>P</em> = 0.017) and a negative correlation with BMI z-score (r = −0.225; <em>P</em> = 0.015) only in girls.</p> <h3>Conclusion/Significance</h3><p>Our data suggest that <em>VNN1</em> gene expression and the G-137T variant are associated with HDL-C levels in Mexican children, particularly in prepubertal girls.</p> </div