The fecal metabolome as a functional readout of the gut microbiome

Nat Genet. 2018 Jun;50(6):790-795. doi: 10.1038/s41588-018-0135-7. Epub 2018 May 28.

Abstract

The human gut microbiome plays a key role in human health 1 , but 16S characterization lacks quantitative functional annotation 2 . The fecal metabolome provides a functional readout of microbial activity and can be used as an intermediate phenotype mediating host-microbiome interactions 3 . In this comprehensive description of the fecal metabolome, examining 1,116 metabolites from 786 individuals from a population-based twin study (TwinsUK), the fecal metabolome was found to be only modestly influenced by host genetics (heritability (H2) = 17.9%). One replicated locus at the NAT2 gene was associated with fecal metabolic traits. The fecal metabolome largely reflects gut microbial composition, explaining on average 67.7% (±18.8%) of its variance. It is strongly associated with visceral-fat mass, thereby illustrating potential mechanisms underlying the well-established microbial influence on abdominal obesity. Fecal metabolic profiling thus is a novel tool to explore links among microbiome composition, host phenotypes, and heritable complex traits.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase / genetics
  • Feces / microbiology*
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome*
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Metabolome / genetics
  • Obesity / genetics
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics

Substances

  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase