Abstract: FR-OR58
Association Between the Gut Microbiota and Kidney Function
Session Information
- Findings from Landmark Trials, Other Kidney Trials, and Observational Studies
November 05, 2021 | Location: Simulive, Virtual Only
Abstract Time: 04:30 PM - 06:00 PM
Category: Health Maintenance, Nutrition, and Metabolism
- 1300 Health Maintenance, Nutrition, and Metabolism
Authors
- Nowak, Christoph, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
- Arnlov, Johan, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
Group or Team Name
- GUTSY Research Consortium
Background
The human gut microbiota is composed of the bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms that live in the lower intestines in a symbiotic relationship with the host. Disruption of the gut microbiota has been associated with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, but the association with kidney disease is still largely unknown.
Methods
We studied the composition and predicted function of the gut microbiota based on shotgun whole-genome sequencing of microbial DNA in fecal samples collected from 9,788 adults enrolled in the longitudinal, population-based Swedish SCAPIS cohort study. Linear regression adjusted for technical variables, age, sex, Shannon diversity index and (in sensitivity analysis) established kidney disease risk factors was used to identify associations between the log(x+1)-transformed relative frequencies of 1,900 metagenomic species and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Additional sensitivity analyses included stratified analyses for gender, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. The Benjamini-Hochberg false discovery rate (FDR) multiplicity correction was used.
Results
We included 5,130 women (57.5±4.3 years) and 4,658 men (57.6±4.4 years). The mean eGFR was 86.5±11.3 for men, and 85.5±12.1 for women. Amongst all participants, 42% had an eGFR above 90, 39% had an eGFR between 75-90, 17% had an eGFR between 60-75, 2% had an eGFR between 45-60, and less than 0.1% had an eGFR below 45. In the age- and sex-adjusted model, we identified four bacteria that were associated with eGFR at an FDR < 0.05. Additional adjustment for kidney disease risk factors rendered one of the associations no longer significant. The kidney function-associated bacteria could be identified down to the species level and belonged to the Orders of Eubacteriales (two bacteria), Coriobacteriales, and Veillonellales. Gene set enrichment analysis indicated significant (FDR < 0.05) enrichment in 48 metabolic pathways.
Conclusion
In the largest gut microbiome association study of kidney function on healthy adults to date, we discovered four bacteria whose abundance was associated with glomerular filtration rate. The functional enrichment of kidney function-associated microbiota provides further insights into its possible role in kidney health.