Deficient butyrate-producing capacity in the gut microbiome is associated with bacterial network disturbances and fatigue..., 2023, Guo,Lipkin et al

Study now published, see https://www.s4me.info/threads/prepr...toms-2021-guo-lipkin-et-al.23117/#post-459929 for abstract and link.

Preprint: Deficient butyrate-producing capacity in the gut microbiome of [ME/CFS] patients is associated with fatigue symptoms, 2021, Guo,Lipkin et al

Abstract
Background: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex, debilitating disease of unknown cause for which there is no specific therapy. Patients suffering from ME/CFS commonly experience persistent fatigue, post-exertional malaise, cognitive dysfunction, sleep disturbances, orthostatic intolerance, fever and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Recent evidence implicates gut microbiome dysbiosis in ME/CFS. However, most prior studies are limited by small sample size, differences in clinical criteria used to define cases, limited geographic sampling, reliance on bacterial culture or 16S rRNA gene sequencing, or insufficient consideration of confounding factors that may influence microbiome composition. In the present study, we evaluated the fecal microbiome in the largest prospective, case-control study to date (n=106 cases, n=91 healthy controls), involving subjects from geographically diverse communities across the United States.

Results: Using shotgun metagenomics and qPCR and rigorous statistical analyses that controlled for important covariates, we identified decreased relative abundance and quantity of Faecalibacterium, Roseburia, and Eubacterium species and increased bacterial load in feces of subjects with ME/CFS. These bacterial taxa play an important role in the production of butyrate, a multifunctional bacterial metabolite that promotes human health by regulating energy metabolism, inflammation, and intestinal barrier function. Functional metagenomic and qPCR analyses were consistent with a deficient microbial capacity to produce butyrate along the acetyl-CoA pathway in ME/CFS. Metabolomic analyses of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) confirmed that fecal butyrate concentration was significantly reduced in ME/CFS. Further, we found that the degree of deficiency in butyrate-producing bacteria correlated with fatigue symptom severity among ME/CFS subjects. Finally, we provide evidence that IBS comorbidity is an important covariate to consider in studies investigating the microbiome of ME/CFS subjects, as differences in microbiota alpha diversity, some bacterial taxa, and propionate were uniquely associated with self-reported IBS diagnosis.

Conclusions: Our findings indicate that there is a core deficit in the butyrate-producing capacity of the gut microbiome in ME/CFS subjects compared to healthy controls. The relationships we observed among symptom severity and these gut microbiome disturbances may be suggestive of a pathomechanistic linkage, however, additional research is warranted to establish any causal relationship. These findings provide support for clinical trials that explore the utility of dietary, probiotic and prebiotic interventions to boost colonic butyrate production in ME/CFS.

Open access, https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.10.27.21265575v1.full-text

 

https://twitter.com/user/status/1455218346719424518

 

I believe that this preprint shows similar findings to the recent preprint from Jackson Labs, Preprint: Multi-omics of host-microbiome interactions in short- and long-term Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), 2021, Xiong

 

My butyrate-producing bacteria were below normal on my test when I had h pylori infection.

 

I remember back before S4ME came into existence that many people were talking about a new supplement called Miyarisan? Meant to boost butyrate production. Many of us still seem to be around ME forums.

But maybe it's not as simple as that. I hope that they have found something useful and that some kind soul will be able to explain that when the time comes.

 

The impact of butyrate producing bacteria is something that could be tested in a clinical trial. Should be relatively easy to do.

 

I think if it was an effective treatment for ME, someone would have noticed it after taking butyrate supplements. I've had different antibiotics and drastic diet changes, which should have affected my butyrate production, but I didn't notice any significant differences in my ME.

 

Wonder if this might be one reason why FMT sometimes proves successful...?

 

A webinar presentation by Lipkin on these results has been posted here, https://www.s4me.info/threads/usa-nih-national-institutes-of-health-news.18724/page-5#post-405387

 

Now published.

Full title: Deficient butyrate-producing capacity in the gut microbiome is associated with bacterial network disturbances and fatigue symptoms in ME/CFS

Highlights

• ME/CFS patients have substantial gut microbiome dysbiosis
• Bacterial abundances, functions, SCFAs and species interactions deviate in ME/CFS
• Reduced F. prausnitzii and E. rectale in ME/CFS may contribute to butyrate deficiency
• Low F. prausnitzii abundance correlates with more severe fatigue symptoms in ME/CFS

Summary
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is characterized by unexplained debilitating fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, gastrointestinal disturbances, and orthostatic intolerance. Here, we report a multi-omic analysis of a geographically diverse cohort of 106 cases and 91 healthy controls that revealed differences in gut microbiome diversity, abundances, functional pathways, and interactions. Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Eubacterium rectale, which are both recognized as abundant, health-promoting butyrate producers in the human gut, were reduced in ME/CFS. Functional metagenomics, qPCR, and metabolomics of fecal short-chain fatty acids confirmed a deficient microbial capacity for butyrate synthesis. Microbiome-based machine learning classifier models were robust to geographic variation and generalizable in a validation cohort. The abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii was inversely associated with fatigue severity. These findings demonstrate the functional nature of gut dysbiosis and the underlying microbial network disturbance in ME/CFS, providing possible targets for disease classification and therapeutic trials.

Open access, https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(23)00029-X

 

NIH news release. Article covers both this study and Preprint: Multi-omics of host-microbiome interactions in short- and long-term Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), 2021, Xiong

Studies find that microbiome changes may be a signature for ME/CFS

"Researchers have found differences in the gut microbiomes of people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) compared to healthy controls. Findings from two studies, published in Cell Host & Microbe and funded by the National Institutes of Health add to growing evidence that connects disruptions in the gut microbiome, the complete collection of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that live in our gastrointestinal system, to ME/CFS.

“The microbiome has emerged as a potential contributor to ME/CFS. These findings provide unique insights into the role the microbiome plays in the disease and suggest that certain differences in gut microbes could serve as biomarkers for ME/CFS,” said Vicky Whittemore, Ph.D., program director at NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)."

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/studies-find-microbiome-changes-may-be-signature-mecfs

 

My ME didn't start until I was put on a "skookum" dose of penicillin for a tooth infection. Three days later the ME hit in a split second and I've never been the same since. I've always believed that my ME was due to a screwed up gut biome.

 

Pay-walled
https://www.newscientist.com/articl...-linked-to-lower-levels-of-some-gut-bacteria/

 

FEBRUARY 8, 2023
expert reaction to two studies on the gut microbiome and ME/CFS
https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-two-studies-on-the-gut-microbiome-and-me-cfs/

 

All I can remember about butyrate is that it tastes of pineapple.
Maybe the cure for ME is eating pineapple for breakfast.

I have not found it helps with Long Covid though.