Effects of Gut Microbiota Manipulation by Antibiotics on Host Metabolism in Obese Humans: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial

  • Dorien Reijnders
  • , Gijs H. Goossens
  • , Gerben D. A. Hermes
  • , Evelien P. J. G. Neis
  • , Kirsten van der Beek
  • , Jasper Most
  • , Jens J. Holst
  • , Kaatje Lenaerts
  • , Ruud S. Kootte
  • , Max Nieuwdorp
  • , Albert K. Groen
  • , Steven Olde Damink
  • , Mark V. Boekschoten
  • , Hauke Smidt
  • , Erwin G. Zoetendal
  • , Cornelis H. C. Dejong
  • , Ellen E. Blaak*
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The gut microbiota has been implicated in obesity and cardiometabolic diseases, although evidence in humans is scarce. We investigated how gut microbiota manipulation by antibiotics (7-day administration of amoxicillin, vancomycin, or placebo) affects host metabolism in 57 obese, prediabetic men. Vancomycin, but not amoxicillin, decreased bacterial diversity and reduced Firmicutes involved in short-chain fatty acid and bile acid metabolism, concomitant with altered plasma and/or fecal metabolite concentrations. Adipose tissue gene expression of oxidative pathways was upregulated by antibiotics, whereas immune-related pathways were downregulated by vancomycin. Antibiotics did not affect tissue-specific insulin sensitivity, energy/substrate metabolism, postprandial hormones and metabolites, systemic inflammation, gut permeability, and adipocyte size. Importantly, energy harvest, adipocyte size, and whole-body insulin sensitivity were not altered at 8-week follow-up, despite a still considerably altered microbial composition, indicating that interference with adult microbiota by 7-day antibiotic treatment has no clinically relevant impact on metabolic health in obese humans.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)63-74
Number of pages12
JournalCell Metabolism
Volume24
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Jul 2016

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