Analysis of fecal microbiota, organic acids and plasma lipids in hepatic cancer patients with or without liver cirrhosis.
OBJECTIVE
Changes in the microbiota composition are able to affect nutrient absorption and energy metabolism, but there are few human studies. The aims were to analyze fecal constituents quantitatively and compare them with liver dysfunction in hepatic cancer patients and to evaluate the relationships among intestinal microbiota, fecal organic acids and plasma lipid composition.


METHODS
Fecal samples collected from 46 hepatic cancer patients (with liver cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis or liver fibrosis and normal liver) were evaluated for fecal constituents. Blood organic acid, lipid and fatty acid concentrations were analyzed.


RESULTS
Fecal microbiota and organic acids showed no significant differences among different liver dysfunction patients. In normal liver patients, fecal Candida was positively correlated with plasma phospholipid while Bifidobacterium was negatively correlated with plasma eicosapentaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid/arachidonic acid ratio (all p < 0.05). In cirrhotic liver patients, positive correlations were noted for Lactobacillus and docosahexaenoic acid and Candida and eicosapentaenoic acid or eicosapentaenoic acid/arachidonic acid ratio (all p < 0.01). It was suggested that intestinal biota affected serum fatty acid metabolism and were modified by liver disorders.


CONCLUSIONS
Intestinal microbiota and organic acid concentrations in hepatic cancer patients had positive and/or negative correlations with serum lipid levels.
Division of Nutrition and Metabolism, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kobe, Japan. musa@kobe-u.ac.jp
Makoto
M
Usami
Makoto
M
Miyoshi
Yoshihiro
Y
Kanbara
Michiko
M
Aoyama
Hiroe
H
Sakaki
Katsuhito
K
Shuno
Kenrou
K
Hirata
Masanori
M
Takahashi
Kimihiko
K
Ueno
Yasuhiro
Y
Hamada
Shouzou
S
Tabata
Takashi
T
Asahara
Koji
K
Nomoto
D000143:Acids / Q000097:blood; D000368:Aged; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000097:blood; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D064307:Microbiota; D008875:Middle Aged; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood
D000143:Acids; D008055:Lipids; D010743:Phospholipids; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid