Publications
The Dutch Microbiome Project is a three-generational population cohort and biobank with well-defined phenotypes. The composition and function of the gut microbiota of 8,208 individuals (clustered into 2,756 families, age range 8–84 years, 57.4% female) was characterised. A high abundance of Prevotella copri was associated with a lower risk of irritable bowel syndrome and good general health. Pet ownership, rural living environment and greenspace surface area, were associated with increases in healthy microbiome signatures, including Prevotella copri.
Environmental factors shaping the gut microbiome in a Dutch population. Gacesa R et al. Nature 2022, 604(7907):732-739.
Researchers performed deep metagenomic sequencing of 1,203 gut microbiomes from 1,098 individuals in the Personalised Responses to Dietary Composition Trial (PREDICT 1) study. The microbiome data was analysed with detailed long-term diet information, as well as hundreds of fasting and same-meal postprandial cardiometabolic blood marker measurements. They found that Prevotella copri (and Blastocystis species), were indicators of a favourable postprandial glucose metabolism. They examined the relationships of the main gut bacterial species (n=30) with human cardiometabolic health markers, and Prevotella copri was the 2nd most beneficial microbe to have in the GI tract. It was associated with a large number of beneficial cardiometabolic markers, including lower levels of visceral fat, fasting VLDL-D, and the inflammatory marker GlycA.
Microbiome connections with host metabolism and habitual diet from 1,098 deeply phenotyped individuals. Asnicar F et al. Nat Med 2021, 27(2):321-332.