Oxycodone intervention causes immediate shift in microbiota composition and faecal SCFA accumulation in healthy humans
Opioid-induced bowel dysfunction (OIBD) is a significant clinical challenge associated with opioid therapy for acute and chronic pain management. This study investigates the impact of opioid treatment on gut microbiome structure and function, focusing on microbial diversity, taxonomic composition, and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production. Healthy participants in a cross-over study received placebo and oxycodone treatments, and microbial community structure was analysed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and shotgun metagenomics. Results revealed significant reductions in microbial richness and evenness in opioid-treated participants, with altered taxonomic composition, including increased abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila. Functional analysis identified changes in SCFA production pathways, with elevated concentrations of acetate, butyrate, and propionate in opioid-treated samples. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) confirmed treatment-induced shifts in microbial community clustering. This study highlights the potential role of the gut microbiome in the pathophysiology of OIBD, providing insights into microbial biomarkers and functional pathways affected by opioid therapy. Findings underscore the need for microbiome-targeted interventions to mitigate the gastrointestinal side effects of opioid use.
Opioid-induced bowel dysfunction (OIBD) is a significant clinical challenge associated with opioid therapy for acute and chronic pain management. This study investigates the impact of opioid treatment on gut microbiome structure and function, focusing on microbial diversity, taxonomic composition, and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production. Healthy participants in a cross-over study received placebo and oxycodone treatments, and microbial community structure was analysed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and shotgun metagenomics. Results revealed significant reductions in microbial richness and evenness in opioid-treated participants, with altered taxonomic composition, including increased abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila. Functional analysis identified changes in SCFA production pathways, with elevated concentrations of acetate, butyrate, and propionate in opioid-treated samples. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) confirmed treatment-induced shifts in microbial community clustering. This study highlights the potential role of the gut microbiome in the pathophysiology of OIBD, providing insights into microbial biomarkers and functional pathways affected by opioid therapy. Findings underscore the need for microbiome-targeted interventions to mitigate the gastrointestinal side effects of opioid use.