Correlation between gut dysbiosis, metabolite alterations and erosive hand osteoarthritis – An observational study within the community-based Xiangya Osteoarthritis (XO) cohort
Authors' conclusion
A higher relative abundance of Alistipes senegalensis and alterations in tryptophan metabolites, particularly higher levels of IA, are associated with EHOA.
Study context
- Population
- Participants of the community-based Xiangya Osteoarthritis Study
- Participants
- 1,324 participants
- Exposure
- Erosive hand OA vs controls
- Outcome
- Gut microbial α-diversity and β-diversity, EHOA vs controls
Methodological detailscommunity-based cohort, targeted blood metabolomics, multi-omics analyses
- Community-based cohort
- Targeted blood metabolomics
- Multi-omics analyses
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Gut microbial α-diversity (species level)
Erosive hand osteoarthritis (EHOA)
4.53
median
Non-HOA control
4.16
median
Each group vs Non-HOA controlMedian difference (95% CI)P value
EHOA
0.37(0.09–0.57)
P = 0.016- EHOA
- β-diversity R² 0.002 (95% CI 0.0018–0.006); P = 0.015
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Relative abundance of gut microbial species in EHOAEHOA vs Non-HOA control | β coefficient, Alistipes senegalensis 0.17 (95% CI 0.07–0.26) |
| Relative abundance of gut microbial species in EHOAEHOA vs Non-HOA control | β coefficient, Fournierella massiliensis 0.39 (95% CI 0.28–0.49) |
| Blood tryptophan metabolites in EHOA (targeted metabolomics)EHOA vs Non-HOA control | β coefficient, L-5-hydroxytryptophan 0.38 (95% CI 0.15–0.61) |
| Blood tryptophan metabolites in EHOA (targeted metabolomics)EHOA vs Non-HOA control | β coefficient, 3-indoleglyoxylic acid 0.35 (95% CI 0.01–0.69) |
| Blood tryptophan metabolites in EHOA (targeted metabolomics)EHOA vs Non-HOA control | β coefficient, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid 0.27 (95% CI 0.09–0.45) |
| Blood tryptophan metabolites in EHOA (targeted metabolomics)EHOA vs Non-HOA control | β coefficient, indoleacrylic acid (IA) 0.23 (95% CI 0.001–0.46) |
| Blood tryptophan metabolites in EHOA (targeted metabolomics)EHOA vs Non-HOA control | β coefficient, serotonin 0.20 (95% CI 0.004–0.40) |
| Blood tryptophan metabolites in EHOA (targeted metabolomics)EHOA vs Non-HOA control | β coefficient, L-tryptophan −0.41 (95% CI −0.75 to −0.06) |
| Blood tryptophan metabolites in EHOA (targeted metabolomics)EHOA vs Non-HOA control | β coefficient, indole-3-acetyl-aspartate −1.05 (95% CI −1.79 to −0.32) |
Relative abundance of gut microbial species in EHOA
- Tryptophan metabolism was the main altered metabolic pathway
Correlation of indoleacrylic acid (IA) with Alistipes senegalensis
- IA positively correlated with Alistipes senegalensis, β coefficient
- 0.20 (95%CI 0.14-0.27)
Original publication
Correlation between gut dysbiosis, metabolite alterations and erosive hand osteoarthritis – An observational study within the community-based Xiangya Osteoarthritis (XO) cohort. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. Published 7 July 2025. doi:10.
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