The differences of gut microbiota on schizophrenia with obesity and the potential effects of enterotype on metabolic pathways: cross-sectional study

Background: Recent studies have shown that gut microbiota has a certain influence on the occurrence of obesity. As a special classification of gut microbiota, different enterotypes have various preferences in metabolism. There is a significant risk of obesity in people with schizophrenia. This work proposed that the disorder of gut microbiota in patients with schizophrenia was based on microbial enterotypes, which promoted the increase of BMI. Methods: : 97 schizophrenia patients and 69 matched health controls were recruited. The fresh feces of all subjects were collected to complete 16S rRNA sequence. Statistical analysis was performed using R-3.3.1 and metagenomic data statistical analysis software for identification of enterotypes. The relationships within samples were visualized by principal co-ordinates analysis and significant differences in microbial community composition were detected using analysis of similarities. Results: : The BMI of schizophrenia was significantly higher than that of the controls. Patients with enterotype-P had a higher BMI than the others. There’re several differences in the gut microbes of enterotypes-P between patients and controls. Proteobacteria and Firmicutes had significantly higher abundance in patients’ group with enterotypes-P. The Bacteroidetes had higher abundance in health controls with enterotypes-P. There’re several differences in the metabolic pathways of the microbiota which the enterotype P belonged in different BMI intervals. Conclusions: : The patients with schizophrenia had a significantly higher BMI than health controls. Patients with enterotype-P have a higher risk of BMI. The enterotype-P might affect a variety of metabolic pathways to disrupt the metabolism of glucose and lipid in human body.