Microbiome and Nutrition

The complex community of bacteria, yeasts and viruses living in our intestines, collectively known as the gut microbiome, is shaped, in part, by what we eat. Genetics, environment, and other factors also influence an individual’s microbial community. Research at the NRI investigates these complex relationships and their impact on disease risk. We use animal models and bioinformatics to study the associations between nutritional metabolites, gut microbiome, and health. What happens in the gut doesn’t stay in the gut. Your microbiome can play a role in cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes, and even cancer. Our team envisions a future where analysis of your microbiome can determine disease risk, and medical foods can be prescribed to treat and prevent disease by regulating the microbiome.

Publications

 

Microbiome and Nutrition Publications

2020

Population studies of TMAO and its precursors may help elucidate mechanisms. Meyer K

2019

Association of dietary patterns with the gut microbiota in older, community-dwelling men.  Meyer K

The impact of early-life sub-therapeutic antibiotic treatment (STAT) on excessive weight is robust despite transfer of intestinal microbes.  Sumner S

Protein Intake at Twice the RDA in Older Men Increases Circulatory Concentrations of the Microbiome Metabolite Trimethylamine-N-Oxide (TMAO).  Zeisel S

2018

Meta-analysis of human genome-microbiome association studies: the MiBioGen consortium initiative.  Meyer K

Human microbiota, blood group antigens, and disease.  Sumner S

2017

Dietary Choline and Betaine and Risk of CVD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies.  Meyer K

A Microbiomic Analysis in African Americans with Colonic Lesions Reveals Streptococcus sp.VT162 as a Marker of Neoplastic Transformation.  Sumner S

Metabolic profiling of a chronic kidney disease cohort reveals metabolic phenotype more likely to benefit from a probiotic.  Sumner S

Trimethylamine N-Oxide, the Microbiome, and Heart and Kidney Disease.  Zeisel S

2016

Microbiota-Dependent Metabolite Trimethylamine N-Oxide and Coronary Artery Calcium in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study (CARDIA).  Meyer K

Diet and Gut Microbial Function in Metabolic and Cardiovascular Disease Risk.  Meyer K

Antibiotic-mediated gut microbiome perturbation accelerates development of type 1 diabetes in mice. Sumner S

Related News

Multiancestral analysis of inflammation-related genetic variants and C-reactive protein in the population architecture using genomics and epidemiology study

Multiancestral analysis of inflammation-related genetic variants and C-reactive protein in the population architecture using genomics and epidemiology study.
Kocarnik JM, Pendergrass SA, Carty CL, Pankow JS, Schumacher FR, Cheng I, Durda P, Ambite JL, Deelman E, Cook NR, Liu S, Wactawski-Wende J, Hutter C, Brown-Gentry K, Wilson S, Best LG, Pankratz N, Hong CP, Cole SA, Voruganti VS, Bůžkova P, Jorgensen NW, Jenny NS, Wilkens LR, Haiman CA, Kolonel LN, Lacroix A, North K, Jackson R, Le Marchand L, Hindorff LA, Crawford DC, Gross M, Peters U.
Circ Cardiovasc Genet. 2014 Apr;7(2):178-88. doi: 10.1161/CIRCGENETICS.113.000173. Epub 2014 Mar 12.
PMID: 24622110

Early endothelial damage detected by circulating particles in baboons fed a diet high in simple arbohydrates in conjunction with saturated or unsaturated fat

Early endothelial damage detected by circulating particles in baboons fed a diet high in simple arbohydrates in conjunction with saturated or unsaturated fat.
Shi Q, Hodara V, Meng Q, Voruganti VS, Rice K, Michalek JE, Comuzzie AG, VandeBerg JL.
Am J Cardiovasc Dis. 2014 Oct 11;4(3):123-32. eCollection 2014.
PMID: 25360390 [PubMed]

November 2014

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders More Prevalent Than Expected The following, reprinted from HealthDay in an article by Tara Haelle, reveals the findings of a study conducted by NRI Researcher Professor Philip May, Ph.D. Although drinking during pregnancy has long been...

More Kids Harmed by Drinking in Pregnancy Than Expected, Study Reports

The following, reprinted from HealthDay in an article by Tara Haelle, reveals the findings of a study conducted by NRI Research Professor Philip May, Ph.D. MONDAY, Oct. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) – Although drinking during pregnancy has long been considered taboo, new...

Carol L. Cheatham, Ph.D. presented with National TRIO Achiever’s Award

On September 9, at Council for Opportunity in Education’s 33rd Annual Conference Gala, Dr. Cheatham was bestowed the 2014 National TRIO Achiever’s Award. The National TRIO Achiever’s award was created as a tribute to the success and outstanding endeavors of TRIO students and the programs that supported them in their journey to accomplished careers.