The effects of intestinal flora on health should not be underestimated and intestinal bacteria also seem to play a significant role in asthma. Certain bacteria are significantly more common in people with asthma and are associated with increased inflammatory markers in nasal secretions.
In a recent study, a Brazilian research team examined the composition of the gut microbiome and inflammatory markers in nasal secretions in asthmatic and non-asthmatic individuals. The results are published in the “Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology”.
Asthma is a complex disease
Asthma is a complex disease and can be traced back to interactions between genetic background and environmental influences, the researchers explain. It is assumed that the intestinal flora is also related to the development of asthma.
A recently published review paper has already established a connection between the intestinal flora and asthma, although the focus was primarily on fungi living in the intestine. The question in the study by the Brazilian research team was to what extent intestinal bacteria also play a role.
To clarify the possible connection between the intestinal microbiome and asthma, the researchers analyzed the composition of the intestinal microbiome using stool samples in 29 children and adolescents with asthma and 28 children without asthma. They also examined the cytokine profile in the participants’ nasal secretions.
To clarify the possible connection between the intestinal microbiome and asthma, the research team analyzed the composition of the intestinal microbiome using stool samples in 29 children and adolescents with asthma and 28 children without asthma. They also examined the cytokine profile in the participants’ nasal secretions.
Significant differences in intestinal flora
According to the researchers, there were significant differences in intestinal bacteria between asthmatic and non-asthmatic participants.
In particular, bacteria of the genus Bacteroides were more common in participants with asthma, while Prevotella was more common in people without asthma, the team reports.
The relative frequency of Bacteroides also correlated with the concentration of the cytokine interleukin-4 in the nasal secretion in the asthmatic participants.
Altered fatty acid biosynthesis
The assessment of the functional capacity of the intestinal flora revealed evidence of different fatty acid biosynthesis in asthmatics compared to non-asthmatics, the researchers explain.
Since the short-chain fatty acids produced by intestinal bacteria such as acetate, propionate and butyrate are known to have a significant impact on our health, this altered fatty acid biosynthesis could potentially explain the connection between intestinal flora and asthma. This now needs to be clarified in future studies. (fp)
