Recent researches have shown an altered gut microbiota in celiac disease (CD) patients.

A new study published in The Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology evaluated the composition of the microbiota of children with CD at onset, as well as the relationship between bacterial abundances and symptoms.

In this pilot study, CD patients were consecutively enrolled at Pediatric Unit referring for suspected CD. Healthy controls (HCs) were also included in the study. Stool and duodenal samples were collected and evaluated.

Overall, 36 subjects were enrolled – 21 CD patients and 16 HCs, of which 14 were males. The mean age of the participants was 75 months for CD patients and 71 months for HCs. Duodenal microbiota of the patients showed a dominance of Enterobacteriaceae and sub-dominance of Bacteroidetes/Streptococcus. While stool microbiota showed a lower abundance of Bacteroides-Prevotella; Akkermansia and Staphylococcaceae in CD patients compared to the HCs. At symptoms level, an increased mean relative abundance of Bacillaceae and Enterobaeriaceae in patients with abdominal pain was found. CD patients with diarrhea had reduced mean relative abundance of Clostridium cl. XIVa and Akkermansia and an increase in Bacillaceae and Fusobacterium.

From the results, it was concluded that gut microbiota of CD children at disease onset is different from that of HC. While pro-inflammatory microbiota imbalances were associated with CD symptom.

Source: The Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2020 Jul 14. doi: 10.1111/jgh.15183.