Examination of sex-specific interactions between gut microbiota and host metabolism after 12-week combined polyphenol supplementation in individuals with overweight or obesity

Gut Microbes. 2024 Jan-Dec;16(1):2392875. doi: 10.1080/19490976.2024.2392875. Epub 2024 Aug 25.

Abstract

Polyphenols exert beneficial effects on host metabolism, which may be mediated by the gut microbiota. We investigated sex-specific differences in microbiota composition and interactions with cardiometabolic parameters after polyphenol supplementation in individuals with overweight/obesity. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 19 women and 18 men with normal glucose tolerance and body mass index >25 kg/m2 received epigallocatechin-3-gallate and resveratrol (EGCG+RES, 282 + 80 mg/d) or placebo supplements for 12 weeks. Fecal microbiota composition (16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, V3-V4 region), in vivo whole-body fat oxidation (indirect calorimetry), and mitochondrial respiration in permeabilized skeletal muscle fibers (SkM-Ox; ex vivo respirometry) were determined pre- and post-intervention. Overall, EGCG+RES supplementation did not affect gut microbiota composition. Akkermansia, Ruminococcaceae UCG-002, Subdoligranulum, and Lachnospiraceae UCG-004 were more abundant, while Veillonella, Tyzzerella 4, Clostridium innocuum group, Ruminococcus gnavus group, Escherichia-Shigella, and an uncultured Ruminococcaceae family genus were less abundant in women compared to men. In women, only baseline Eubacterium ventriosum group abundance correlated with EGCG+RES-induced changes in SkM-Ox. In men, low Dorea, Barnsiella, Anaerotruncus, Ruminococcus, Subdoligranulum, Coprococcus, Eubacterium ventriosum group, Ruminococcaceae UCG-003, and a Ruminococcaceae family genus abundance, and high Blautia abundance at baseline were associated with improvements in SkM-Ox. Changes in whole-body fat oxidation were not associated with gut microbiota features. We conclude that baseline microbiota composition predicts changes in SkM-Ox as a result of EGCG+RES supplementation in men but not in women. Men may be more prone to diet-induced, gut microbiota-related improvements in cardiometabolic health. These sex-differences should be further investigated in future precision-based intervention studies.

Keywords: Polyphenols; gut microbiota; nutrition; obesity; sex differences.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bacteria / classification
  • Bacteria / drug effects
  • Bacteria / genetics
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification
  • Bacteria / metabolism
  • Catechin* / administration & dosage
  • Catechin* / analogs & derivatives
  • Catechin* / metabolism
  • Catechin* / pharmacology
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome* / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity* / drug therapy
  • Obesity* / metabolism
  • Obesity* / microbiology
  • Overweight* / drug therapy
  • Overweight* / metabolism
  • Overweight* / microbiology
  • Polyphenols* / administration & dosage
  • Polyphenols* / metabolism
  • Polyphenols* / pharmacology
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Resveratrol* / administration & dosage
  • Resveratrol* / pharmacology
  • Sex Factors

Substances

  • Resveratrol
  • Polyphenols
  • Catechin
  • epigallocatechin gallate
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

Grants and funding

This study was funded by the ALPRO foundation. KMJ and EEB perform their work within a project organized by and executed under the auspices of TiFN, a public–private partnership on precompetitive research in food and nutrition (project code: 16NH04). Funding for this research was obtained from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research, DSM, FrieslandCampina, Danone Nutricia Research and the Top Sector Agri & Food the Netherlands. The Centre for Healthy Eating & Food Innovation, Maastricht University Campus Venlo, Venlo, The Netherlands received funding from the Dutch Province of Limburg.