Drug Use and Cessation by Methadone Maintenance Treatment or Compulsory Detention Affect Gut Microbial Diversity
bacterium
This study aims to investigate differences in gut microbial diversity associated with drug use, drug cessation through Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT), compulsory detention (CD), or never use. Methods: 99 participants (28 CD participants, 16 MMT patients, 27 drug users, and 28 healthy controls) were selected using strict inclusion criteria. Nutritional intake and gut microbial diversity were analyzed with bioinformatics tools and SPSS 20.0. Results: Alpha diversity was not significantly different among groups, whereas beta diversity of gut microbiota and nutrient intake were significantly higher among MMT patients. In contrast, CD participants had the most unique OTUs. Taxa were unevenly distributed between groups, with drug users having the highest proportion of Ruminococcus, and MMT patients having the highest abundance of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Fusicatenibacter, and other genera. Conclusion: Drug use, cessation method, and diet contribute to shaping human gut communities. High beta diversity among MMT patients is likely driven by methadone use and high nutrient intake, leading to increased orexin A and enrichment for beneficial bacteria, while diversity in CD participants was largely influenced by diet. MMT and compulsory drug detention both select for taxa that potentially decrease the risk of impaired memory and cognitive function.