Comparison of the gut microbiota profile in lean and obese individuals determined by Body Mass Index

Comparison of the gut microbiota profile in lean and obese individuals determined by Body Mass IndexTo investigate gut microbiota change in obese individuals, we analyzed the fecal samples of fifteen adults with a Body Mass Index (BMI) higher than 30 and fifteen adults with a BMI lower than 25 for microbial content using 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing. The results obtained were compared. The most interesting finding was that the gut microbiota biodiversity in the obese group was significantly richer than in the lean group. Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio and the abundance of the genus Collisella were higher, while the genera Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium, and Phascolarctobacterium were lower in the group with increased BMI. Akkermansia mucinophila and methanogen abundance were similar in both groups. The highest correlation with increasing BMI was detected for the Micromonosporaceae family. No dysbiosis was detected in any participant in the study. However, the phylum Proteobacteria was more abundant than the literature data and had a higher percentage in the obese group.