Systemic sclerosis & Raynaud's
Gastrointestinal tract involvement in systemic sclerosis: The roles of diet and the microbiome
Authors' conclusion
SSc patients reporting more severe GI symptoms exhibited GI microbial dysbiosis characterized by less species diversity and alterations in microbial composition. A low FODMAP diet was not associated with significant alterations in GI microbial composition or reduced SSc-GI symptoms
Study context
- Population
- Adult systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients, majority women, mean disease duration 9.6 years35 completed Diet History Questionnaire (DHQ) II
- Participants
- 66 patients
- Exposure
- Low vs non-low fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAP) diet; Gastrointestinal (GI) microbial composition vs SSc-GI symptom severity
- Low FODMAPn = 19
- Non-low FODMAPn = 16reference
- Outcome
- Relationship between GI microbial composition (alpha and beta diversity, differential abundance) and SSc-GI symptoms (GIT 2.0)
Methodological detailsconsecutive recruitment, bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing
- Consecutive recruitment
- Bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
GI microbial composition vs GI symptom severity (total GIT 2.0 score)
- Increased GI symptom severity associated with decreased species diversity and differences in GI microbial composition
- Pathobiont genera (e.g., Klebsiella and Enterococcus) significantly more abundant with increased GI symptom severity
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
GI symptom severity and microbial diversity, low vs non-low FODMAP
- No significant differences in GI symptom severity or in alpha and beta diversity
- Non-low FODMAP had greater abundance of the pathobiont Enterococcus
Original publication
Gastrointestinal tract involvement in systemic sclerosis: The roles of diet and the microbiome. Semin Arthritis Rheum. Published 24 February 2023. doi:10.
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