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Ion torrent sequencing detected changes in gut microbiota from omega-3-rich diet

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ion torrent sequencing indicated that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids appeared to increase butyrate-producing bacteria and reduce bacteria that degrade genistein in the human gut microbiome, according to data presented at ICAAC 2014.

“We wanted to investigate the effect of omega-3 fatty acid-rich diet on the gut microbiota, and what we observed was a significant decrease in some of the bacteroides and some bacteria that can actually degrade genistein, which is an isoflavone found in soy products,” Jonathan Coffman, PhD, Larkin Health Science Institute, Miami, told Healio.com/Gastroenterology. “We also found a significant increase in butyrate-producing bacteria, which has been shown to be very beneficial for cells in the colon.”

Jonathan Coffman

Coffman and colleagues collected stool samples from a patient aged 45 years who consumed more than 600 mg omega-3 daily for 2 weeks. They processed 8 mm fecal FTA punches amplified with 16S universal primers and sequenced regions V1-V3 using an ion torrent platform. Researchers defined and categorized operational taxonomic units (OTUs).

The results showed a decrease in species diversity by 8.5%, followed by an increase of 12.5%. Numerous butyrate-producing bacteria from the Ruminococcus genus increased in addition to Roseburia faecis, Psuedobutyrivibrio spp., Blautia spp., Coprococcus clostridium sp. ss2/1 and Anaerostipes spp.Furthermore, Bacteroides uniformis, linked to genistein degradation, decreased along with Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, an anti-inflammatory commensal bacterium.

“We determined that ion torrent DNA sequencing was a cost-effective way to assess changes in the gut microbiota relative to changes in the diet,” Coffman said.

The researchers also concluded that “the benefits of an omega-3 rich diet may be due, in part, to increases in butyrate-producing bacteria and to the reduction of bacteria that limit the beneficial aspect of genistein from soy products.” – by Adam Leitenberger

For more information:

Coffman J. Abstract D-1495. Presented at: Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy; Sept. 5-9, 2014; Washington, D.C.

Disclosure: Dowd is an employee of Molecular Resource DNA.