Acromegaly is associated with a distinct oral and gut microbiota

Purpose Our aim was to investigate the changes in the composition of oral and gut microbiota in patients with newly diagnosed acromegaly and their relationship with IGF-1 levels. Methods Oral and fecal samples were collected from patients with newly diagnosed acromegaly without comorbidities and from healthy controls. The composition of the microbiota was analyzed. The general characteristics, oral and stool samples of the patients and healthy control subjects were compared. The changes in microbiota composition in both habitats, their correlations and associations with IGF-1 were statistically observed using machine learning models. Results Fifteen patients with newly diagnosed acromegaly without comorbidities and 15 healthy controls were included in the study. There was good agreement between fecal and oral microbiota in patients with acromegaly (p = 0.03). Oral microbiota diversity was significantly increased in patients with acromegaly (p < 0.01). In the fecal microbiota, the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was lower in patients with acromegaly than in healthy controls (p = 0.011). Application of the transfer learned model to the pattern of microbiota allowed us to identify the patients with acromegaly with perfect accuracy. Conclusions Patients with acromegaly have their own oral and gut microbiota even if they do not have acromegaly-related complications. Moreover, the excess IGF-1 levels could be correctly predicted based on the pattern of the microbiome.

Automated summary

The study included 15 patients with newly diagnosed acromegaly without comorbidities and 15 healthy controls. It was found that there was agreement between oral and gut microbiota in acromegaly patients, with increased diversity in oral microbiota and lower Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio in fecal microbiota of acromegaly patients. Using a transfer learned model, patients with acromegaly could be identified with perfect accuracy based on the pattern of the microbiome.