Comparative analysis of the gut microbiomein children with obesity and normal weight
ORIGINAL STUDIES
Abstract
Background.Current research indicates a significant influence of gut microbiota on the development and maintenance of obesity in children. Analyzing the relationships between gut microbial composition and obesity requires the application of high-precision modern methods of data processing, including artificial intelligence technologies.
Aim.To characterize the taxonomic structure of the gut microbiota in children aged 6–9 years with obesity compared to peers with normal body weight and to assess the associations of key taxa with SDS body mass index (BMI).
Materials and methods.203 children, including 154 with obesity and 49 with normal body weight, were included in the study. The microbial composition of the large intestine was investigated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (ENTEROFLOR Children kit). Biostatistical analysis included calculation of alpha- and beta-diversity indices (Shannon, Simpson, Bray–Curtis), ANOSIM (Analysis of Similarities), PCA (Principal Coordinate Analysis) and the Random Forest algorithm. Associations between taxa and body mass index (SDS BMI) were tested using correlation analysis (Spearman and Pearson).
Results.Alpha diversity of microbiota in obese children and controls had no statistically significant differences (p=0.288 for Shannon index; p=0.411 for Simpson index). However, beta diversity analysis using the Bray–Curtis metric and ANOSIM method established significant differences in the taxonomic structure of microbial communities between the groups (R coefficient = 0.138, p=0.002).
Using the “Random Forest” algorithm, nine significant microbiome biomarkers associated with the disease were identified:Prevotellaspp., Enterobacterales, and theDialister group, Allisonella, Megasphaera,andVeillonellawere positively correlated with obesity, whileAkkermansia muciniphilaandCandidaspp. showed negative associations. The sensitivity of the model was 100%, specificity — 81,25%.
Conclusions.In children aged 6–9 years with obesity, the gut microbiota is characterized by structural alterations while maintaining alpha diversity. The key microbiome markers of obesity arePrevotellaspp.,Enterobacterales, and the groupDialister + Allisonella + Megasphaera + Veillonella, whereasAkkermansia muciniphilaandCandidaspp. show protective associations. The use of machine learning methods confirmed the informativeness of these taxa and their significance for early diagnosis and prognosis of childhood obesity.
References
1. Phelps N.H., Singleton R.K., Zhou B. et al. Worldwide trends in underweight and obesity from 1990 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 3663 population-representative studies with 222 million children, adolescents, and adults. Lancet. 2024;403(10431):1027–1050. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)02750-2.
2. Larsen J.M. The immune response to Prevotella bacteria in chronic inflammatory disease. Immunol. 2017;151(4):363–374. https://doi.org/10.1111/imm.12760.
3. Aranaz P., Ramos-Lopez O., Cuevas-Sierra A., Martinez J.A., Milagro F.I., Riezu-Boj J.I. A predictive regression model of the obesity-related inflammatory status based on gut microbiota composition. Int J Obes. 2021;45(10):2261–2268. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-021-00904-4.
4. Karlsson C.L.J., Önnerfält J., Xu J., Molin G., Ahrné S., Thorngren-Jerneck K. The microbiota of the gut in preschool children with normal and excessive body weight. Obesity. 2012;20(11):2257–2261. https://doi.org/10.1038/oby.2012.110.
5. Migacheva N.B., Skvortsova O.V., Lyamin A.V., Alekseev D.V., Kayumov K.A., Antipov V.A. Assessment of species diversity of anaerobic intestinal microbiota in children and adolescents with exogenous constitutional obesity. Vopr Pitan. 2024;93(3):14–22. https://doi.org/10.33029/0042-8833-2024-93-3-14-22.
6. Hollister E.B., Riehle K., Luna R.A. et al. Structure and function of the healthy pre-adolescent pediatric gut microbiome. Microbiome. 2015;3(1):36. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40168-015-0101-x.
7. Mar Rodríguez M., Pérez D., Javier Chaves F. et al. Obesity changes the human gut mycobiome. Sci Rep. 2015;5(1):14600. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep14600.
8. Borgo F., Verduci E., Riva A. et al. Relative abundance in bacterial and fungal gut microbes in obese children: a case control study. Child Obes. 2017;13(1):78–84. https://doi.org/10.1089/chi.2015.0194.
9. Riva A., Borgo F., Lassandro C. et al. Pediatric obesity is associated with an altered gut microbiota and discordant shifts in F irmicutes populations. Environ Microbiol. 2017;19(1):95–105. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.13463.
10. Forcina G., Di Filippo P., De Biasio D. et al. Targeting the gut microbiota in pediatric obesity: a paradigm shift in prevention and treatment? A comprehensive review. Nutrients. 2025;17(18):2942. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17182942.
11. Vazquez-Moreno M., Perez-Herrera A., Locia-Morales D. et al. Association of gut microbiome with fasting triglycerides, fasting insulin and obesity status in Mexican children. Pediatr Obes. 2021;16(5):e12748. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpo.12748.
12. Zhan H., Wan Y., Sun Y. et al. Gut mycobiome alterations in obesity in geographically different regions. Gut Microbes. 2024;16(1):2367297. https://doi.org/10.1080/19490976.2024.2367297.
13. Pinart M., Dötsch A., Schlicht K. et al. Gut microbiome composition in obese and non-obese persons: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrients. 2021;14(1):12. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14010012
14. Karvonen A.M., Sordillo J.E., Gold D.R. et al. Gut microbiota and overweight in 3-year old children. Int J Obes. 2019;43(4):713–723. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-018-0290-z.
15. López-Contreras B.E., Morán-Ramos S., Villarruel-Vázquez R. et al. Composition of gut microbiota in obese and normal-weight Mexican school-age children and its association with metabolic traits. Pediatr Obes. 2018;13(6):381–388. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpo.12262.
