AUTHOR=Han Zongze , Ran Ying , Li Jiwen , Zhang Xue , Yang Hui , Liu Jiangpeng , Dong Shijing , Jia Hao , Yang Zhen , Li Yanni , Guo Liping , Zhou Simin , Bao Suriguge , Yuan Wei , Wang Bangmao , Zhou Lu 

TITLE=Association of gut microbiota with lactose intolerance and coeliac disease: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1395801

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2024.1395801

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=<sec id="sec1"><title>Background and objectives</title><p>Lactose intolerance and coeliac disease are common clinical nutrient malabsorption disorders, with an unclear pathogenesis and limited therapeutic options. It is widely believed that the gut microbiota plays an important role in many digestive disorders, but its role in lactose intolerance and coeliac disease is not yet clear. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between gut microbiota and lactose intolerance and coeliac disease.</p></sec><sec id="sec2"><title>Materials and methods</title><p>This study utilized the genome-wide association study database to investigate the association between gut microbiota and lactose intolerance and coeliac disease using Mendelian randomization (MR). The robustness of our findings was confirmed through subsequent analyses including Cochrane’s <italic>Q</italic> statistic, MR-Egger Intercept Regression, MR-PRESSO Global Test and Leave-one-out methods.</p></sec><sec id="sec3"><title>Results</title><p>By employing the inverse variance weighted method, we identified that family <italic>Veillonellaceae</italic>, genus <italic>Oxalobacter</italic> and <italic>Senegalimassilia</italic> were protective against lactose intolerance, whereas genus <italic>Anaerotruncus</italic>, <italic>Eubacterium rectale group</italic> and <italic>Ruminococcus2</italic> were found to be risk factors for lactose intolerance. Regarding coeliac disease, class <italic>Bacilli</italic> and <italic>Gammaproteobacteria</italic>, family <italic>FamilyXIII</italic> and <italic>Veillonellaceae</italic>, genus <italic>Eisenbergiella</italic>, <italic>Lachnoclostridium</italic>, <italic>RuminococcaceaeUCG014</italic> and <italic>Ruminococcus2</italic> were identified as protective factors, while class <italic>Betaproteobacteria</italic>, genus <italic>Eubacterium xylanophilum group</italic> and <italic>Blautia</italic> were risk factors. Furthermore, reverse the MR analysis did not reveal any evidence of a causal relationship between lactose intolerance or coeliac disease and the bacteria identified in our study.</p></sec><sec id="sec4"><title>Conclusion</title><p>This study provides novel insights into exploring the role of gut microbiota in lactose intolerance and coeliac disease; however, further experiments investigations are required to elucidate the specific underlying mechanisms.</p></sec>