Distribution of Urolithins Metabotypes in Healthy Chinese Youth: Difference in Gut Microbiota and Predicted Metabolic Pathways

This is the first study to report the distribution of urolithin metabotypes (UMs) in Asian people, specifically in the Chinese. As was reported for Europeans and Latin Americans, three UMs were observed, UM-A (54.3%), UM-B (31.4%), and UM-0 (14.3%), in 35 healthy Chinese youth. The richness and diversity of gut microbiota were lower in UM-0 than in UM-A and UM-B at the genus level. Gordonibacter in UM-A and UM-B was significantly higher than that in UM-0. The Akkermansia was not found in UM-0. The correlation analysis between the type and content of urolithins and the gut microbiota at the genus level showed that 27 genera were significantly positively correlated with urolithin A and 20 genera were significantly positively associated with isourolithin A and urolithin B. In addition, different KEGG pathways such as TCA cycle, energy metabolism, and some disease were found between the gut microbiome of the three UMs. Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms of metabotypes and the differential health benefits or illness predisposition of the three UMs.

Automated summary

This study reported the distribution of urolithin metabotypes in Chinese youth and found differences in richness and diversity of gut microbiota among the three metabotypes. The abundance of Gordonibacter and presence of Akkermansia varied significantly among different metabotypes. Correlation analysis showed associations between urolithin types and gut microbiota at the genus level. Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms and health implications of these metabotypes.