Xmas Dinner Microbiome. Xmas

Objectives To assess the effect of having Christmas dinner with in-laws on the gut microbiota composition. Design Observational studySetting Christmas 2016, Academic Medical Centre (AMC) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Participants 28 healthy volunteers (14 men, 14 women) were recruited from the Departments of Internal Medicine and Surgery at the AMC, the Netherlands. Data collection On two separate time points (December 23rd and December 27th 2016), participants provided fresh faecal samples. Throughout the study period (December 21st till December 26th 2016), participants kept track of their dietary intake, and whether they visited their own family versus in-laws during Christmas. Main outcome measures The primary outcome measure was gut microbiota composition assessed by 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing in faecal samples. The second outcome measure was visiting family versus in-laws and change in dietary intake and alcohol consumption during Christmas.Results The microbial-biomarker signature in participants who visited their in-laws was altered to a greater extend compared to the participants who visited their own family. We identified 7 bacterial species whose relative-change profile differed significantly among these two groups, including a significant change in Ruminococcus species, known to be associated with psychological stress and depression, in participants visiting in-laws. Conclusion Visiting in-laws during Christmas alters gut microbiota profile significantly compared to visiting own family. Psychological stress might underlie this effect.