Altered microbiota in microscopic colitis

Recently, Shin et al1 reported that Akkermansia spp had a beneficial effect on glucose homeostasis in obese mice. Mucin degrading Akkermansia—promoting mucin degradation and turnover—is associated with a healthy mucosa. In IBD, a deranged microbiota is reported while findings in microscopic colitis (MC) are lacking. MC is a disorder characterised by chronic non-bloody diarrhoea, predominantly affecting elderly smoking women. Despite frequent diarrhoea, laboratory anomalies are seldom seen. Since an altered microbiota is reported in several immune mediated diseases and since MC affects the gut, our hypothesis was that the microbiota would be altered in patients with MC. A group of 10 female patients (mean age 48 years, range 43–68 years) with onset of MC collected as previously described2 donated faecal samples that were compared with samples from seven healthy control women (mean age 50 years, range 45–65 years) with respect to their faecal microbiota. The bacterial...
Source: Gut - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Tags: Open access PostScript Source Type: research