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A cross-sectional study observing the association of psychosocial stress and dietary intake with gut microbiota genera and alpha diversity among a young adult cohort of black and white women in Birmingham, Alabama
Research is required to examine the connections between food and psychological stress and the variety and composition of the gut microbiota. Knight et al. (2024) investigated the relationships between dietary factors, psychological stress measures, gut microbiota species abundance, and alpha diversity in young adult females. The secondary goal was to investigate the mechanisms of psychosocial stress and gut microbiota quantity and heterogeneity. Information was gathered on sixty females, ages 21 to 45, who self-identified as either European Americans (EA, n = 31) or African Americans (AA, n = 29). Saliva and hair cortisol levels were assessed, and stool samples were subjected to 16S analysis. Dietary factors affecting the number of genera and alpha diversity of the gut microbiota were determined by the amplicon sequence variant (ASV) count. Using validated tools, discrimination experiences (both recent and lifetime), depression, and recognized levels of stress were assessed. The results revealed that AA females had considerably lower Blautia abundance and ASV count. Evaluations on the impact of dietary factors and psychological stress on gut microbiota abundance and ASV count were inconsistent. Lastly, it was discovered that neither food nor cortisol could totally or partially moderate the relationships between the abundance of Blautia and Alistipes, the ASV count, and subjective stress measurements. Compared to EA females, AA females in this cross-sectional research showed reduced alpha diversity and Blautia abundance. ASV count and a few genera of the gut microbiota were shown to be linked with certain dietary factors and psychological stresses. More extensive research is required to investigate the connections between nutrition, the gut microbiota, and psychological stress. [NPID: Psychosocial stress, diet quality, gut microbiota, young adults]
Year: 2024
