Prevotella enterotype associates with diets supporting acidic faecal pH and production of propionic acid by microbiota

• Published in: Heliyon Vol. 10; no. 10; p. e31134
• Main Authors: Adamberg, Signe, Adamberg, Kaarel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 30.05.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: acetates; amino acids; Bacteroides; butyrates; carbohydrates; Clostridium; colon; diet; Enterotypes; Faecal pH; Food diary; Gut microbiota; human health; metabolism; microbiome; microorganisms; Prevotella; propionic acid; Short chain fatty acids (SCFA); Gut microbiota; Food diary; Faecal pH; Enterotypes; Short chain fatty acids (SCFA)
• ISSN: 2405-8440; 2405-8440
• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31134

Metabolism of dietary fibres by colon microbiota plays an important role for human health. Personal data from a nutrition study (57 subjects) were analysed to elucidate quantitative associations between the diet, faecal microbiome, organic acid concentrations and pH. Ratios of the predominant acids acetate, butyrate and propionate ranged from 1:0.67:0.27 to 1:0.17:0.36. Pectin-rich diets resulted in higher faecal acetate concentrations. Negative correlation between faecal pH and BSS was observed. Higher faecal pH and lower acid concentrations were related to the higher abundance of amino acid degrading Clostridium, Odoribacter and Eubacterium coprostanoligenes, which are weak carbohydrate fermenting taxa. Propionic acid correlated especially to high abundance of Prevotella and low abundance of proteobacteria. The acetate to propionate ratio of the Prevotella enterotype was about half of that of the Bacteroides enterotype. Based on the results we suggest the measurement of faecal pH and organic acid composition for research and diagnostic purposes. [Display omitted] •Prevotella enterotype associated with higher faecal propionate concentration and acidic pH.•Lower faecal pH associated with higher Bristol Stool Score (softer stool).•Higher faecal pH was related to the higher abundances of Clostridium and Odoribacter.•Pectin-rich diets supported acetate production by colon microbiota.