Introduction

The amount and bacterial diversity in the bowel are associated to metabolic and inflammatory diseases. The aim was to characterize the gut microbiota composition in faeces and food consumption pattern in healthy, obese and Type 2 diabetes mellitus subjects from Majorca (Spain).

Methods

Bacteria in faeces were characterized by Real-time PCR. DNA was isolated from healthy subjects (23), obese patients (not diabetic) (24) and type 2 diabetic patients (12) and amplified with specific primers for the identification of Roseburia, Clostridium leptum, Lactobacillus and Clostridium coccoides-Eubacterium rectale (Firmicutes); Prevotella and Bacteroides (Bacteroidetes); Bifidobacterium (Actinobacteria); and Universal primer (for all bacteria), referred to amplification of 16S rRNA gene V4 region. Results were statistically analyzed by SPSS v.21.

Results

A rural and urban population from Balearic Islands was tested. The insulin levels were highest in obese group (12.2 + 1.3 md/dL) while the triglyceride, blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin and urine albumin levels were highest in diabetic group. The major dispersion of the blood variables was identified to a bacteria core: Clostridium coccoide-Eubacterium rectale, Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium as possible markers for obese and diabetic patients; and Prevotella and Lactobacillus levels as markers of health. The total amount of bacteria is the highest in control group, such as the ratio between phyla is the lowest. The food consumptiom patterns were different among which is related to the variation in the bacterial patterns.

Conclusion

The variability in the foods consumption among groups was related to five bacterial markers which contributed to the major variability in blood markers: Clostridium coccoide-Eubacterium rectale, Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Prevotella y Lactobacillus; in a population from Majorca, Spain.