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Gut microbiota is essential for the development of obesity and related comorbidities. However, studies describing the association between specific bacteria and obesity or weight loss reported discordant results. The present observational study, conducted within the frame of the PREDIMED-Plus clinical trial, aims to assess the association between fecal microbiota, body composition and weight loss, in response to a 12-month lifestyle intervention in a subsample of 372 individuals (age 55-75) with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome. Participants were stratified by tertiles of baseline body mass index (BMI) and changes in body weight after 12-month intervention. General assessments, anthropometry and biochemical measurements, and stool samples were collected. 16S amplicon sequencing was performed on bacterial DNA extracted from stool samples and microbiota analyzed. Differential abundance analysis showed an enrichment of Prevotella 9, Lachnospiraceae UCG-001 and Bacteroides, associated with a higher weight loss after 12-month of follow-up, whereas in the cross-sectional analysis, Prevotella 2 and Bacteroides were enriched in the lowest tertile of baseline BMI. Our findings suggest that fecal microbiota plays an important role in the control of body weight, supporting specific genera as potential target in personalized nutrition for obesity management. A more in-depth taxonomic identification method and the need of metabolic information encourages to further investigation.

Background: The Mediterranean diet is a well-recognized healthy diet that has shown to induce positive changes in gut microbiota. Lifestyle changes such as diet along with physical activity could aid in weight loss and improve cardiovascular risk factors. Objectives: To investigate the effect of an intensive lifestyle weight loss intervention on gut microbiota. Methods: This is a substudy of the PREDIMED-Plus (Prevention con Dieta Mediterrdnea-Plus), a randomized controlled trial conducted in overweight/obese men and women (aged 55-75 y) with metabolic syndrome. The intervention group (IG) underwent an intensive weight loss lifestyle intervention based on an energy-restricted Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and physical activity promotion. and the control group ((Xi) underwent a non-energy-restricted MedDiet for 1 y. Anthropometric, biochemical, and gut microbial 16S rRNA sequencing data were analyzed at baseline (n = 362) and 1-y follow-up (n = 343). Results: IG participants had a weight loss of 4.2 (IQR, -6.8, -2.5) kg compared with 0.2 (IQR, -2.1. 1.4) kg in the CG (P < 0.001). Reductions in BMI, fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and triglycerides and an increase in HDL cholesterol were greater in IG than inCG participants (P < 0.05). We observed a decrease in Butyricicoccus, Haentophilus. Ruminiclostridium 5, and Eubacterium hall in the IG compared with the CG. Many genera shifted in the same direction within both intervention groups, indicating an overall effect of the MedDiet. Decreases in Themophilus. Coprococcus 3, and few other genera were associated with a decrease in adiposity parameters in both intervention groups. Changes in Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 were positively associated with changes in MedDiet adherence. Conclusions: Weight loss induced by an energy-restricted MedDiet and physical activity induce changes in gut microbiota. The role of MedDiet-induced changes on the host might be via short-chain fatty acid producing bacteria, whereas with energy restriction, these changes might be modulated with other mechanisms, which need to be explored in future studies.

Introduction Type 2 diabetes has been linked to greater cognitive decline, but other glycemic parameters such as prediabetes, diabetes control and treatment, and HOMA-IR and HbA(1c) diabetes-related biomarkers have shown inconsistent results. Furthermore, there is limited research assessing these relationships in short-term studies. Thus, we aimed to examine 2-year associations between baseline diabetes/glycemic status and changes in cognitive function in older participants at high risk of cardiovascular disease. Methods We conducted a 2-year prospective cohort study (n=6,874) within the framework of the PREDIMED-Plus study. The participants (with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome; mean age 64.9 years; 48.5% women) completed a battery of 8 cognitive tests, and a global cognitive function Z-score (GCF) was estimated. At baseline, participants were categorized by diabetes status (no-diabetes, prediabetes, and = 5-year diabetes duration), and also by diabetes control. Furthermore, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) levels were measured, and antidiabetic medications were recorded. Linear and logistic regression models, adjusted by potential confounders, were fitted to assess associations between glycemic status and changes in cognitive function. Results Prediabetes status was unrelated to cognitive decline. However, compared to participants without diabetes, those with >= 5-year diabetes duration had greater reductions in GCF (beta=-0.11 (95%CI -0.16;-0.06)], as well as in processing speed and executive function measurements. Inverse associations were observed between baseline HOMA-IR and changes in GCF [beta=-0.0094 (95%CI -0.0164;-0.0023)], but also between HbA(1c) levels and changes in GCF [beta=-0.0085 (95%CI -0.0115, -0.0055)], the Mini-Mental State Examination, and other executive function tests. Poor diabetes control was inversely associated with phonologic fluency. The use of insulin treatment was inversely related to cognitive function as measured by the GCF [beta=-0.31 (95%CI -0.44, -0.18)], and other cognitive tests. Conclusions Insulin resistance, diabetes status, longer diabetes duration, poor glycemic control, and insulin treatment were associated with worsening cognitive function changes in the short term in a population at high cardiovascular risk.

OBJECTIVE: The hypertriglyceridemic waist (HTGW) phenotype is characterized by abdominal obesity and high levels of triglycerides. In a cross-sectional assessment of PREDIMED-Plus trial participants at baseline, HTGW phenotype prevalence was evaluated, associated risk factors were analyzed, and the lifestyle of individuals with metabolic syndrome and HTGW was examined. METHODS: A total of 6,874 individuals aged 55 to 75 with BMI = 27 and < 40 kg/m(2) were included and classified by presence (HTGW(+) ) or absence (HTGW(-) ) of HTGW (waist circumference: men = 102 cm, women = 88 cm; fasting plasma triglycerides = 150 mg/dL). Analytical parameters and lifestyle (energy intake and expenditure) were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 38.2% of the sample met HTGW(+) criteria. HTGW(+) individuals tended to be younger, have a greater degree of obesity, be sedentary, and be tobacco users. They had higher peripheral glucose, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels; had lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels; and had increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) adherence and physical activity were greater in HTGW(-) patients. Age, BMI, tobacco use, total energy expenditure, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and MedDiet adherence were associated with HTGW(+) . CONCLUSIONS: HTGW is a highly prevalent phenotype in this population associated with younger age, higher BMI, tobacco use, and decreased MedDiet adherence. HTGW(-) individuals were more physically active with greater total physical activity, and fewer had hypertension.