Endocrine Abstracts

Gut microbiota, its phylotypes, the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio can play important role in the pathogenesis of arterial hypertension, obesity and metabolic disorders.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the content of the main phylotypes of the gut microbiota (Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria), the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio in patients with arterial hypertension, abdominal obesity and pre-diabetes.

Materials and methods

The study involved 46 patients with arterial hypertension 2–3 degrees and abdominal obesity (30 men and 16 women), mean age 54.9 ± 6.2 years old with pre-diabetes (main group, n = 17) or without disorders of carbohydrate metabolism (comparison group, n = 29). The main and the comparison groups were comparable in age, gender composition and duration of hypertension. The control group consisted of 20 healthy individuals without cardiovascular diseases, obesity and severe chronic diseases. The investigation included standard clinical, laboratory and instrumental methods. The content of the main gut microbiota phylotypes was determined by identifying the total bacterial DNA and DNA of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria using the method of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was calculated additionally.

Results

In patients with arterial hypertension and abdominal obesity (total group) significant increasing of the relative content of Firmicutes compared with the control group was observed (45.42 [33.24; 55.07] % vs 29.18 [22.45; 38.14] %, P < 0.01), in the absence of a significant difference with the relative content of Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria. The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was significant higher in total group in comparison with control group (1.59 [1.04; 5.17] vs 0.92 [0.64; 2.37], P < 0.01). In patients with arterial hypertension and abdominal obesity with pre-diabetes in comparison with those without disorders of carbohydrate metabolism found significant increasing of the relative content of Firmicutes (51.12 [29.78; 68.51] % vs 40.73 [21.53; 57.14] %, P < 0.01) and the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio (1.84 [1.24; 5.68] vs 1.35 [0.96; 4.64], P < 0.01). The relative contents of Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria were not significant differ in main and comparison groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion.

The results of the study may indicate a significant role of the gut microbiota in the development of initial disorders of carbohydrate metabolism in patients with arterial hypertension and abdominal obesity. The relative content of the Firmicutes and the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio can be considered as important markers of pre-diabetes in indicated patients.