Gut microbiotaa connection between obesity and cardiovascular health in children

Laburpena

Childhood obesity is a significant public health problem associated with the development of cardiometabolic alterations. Due to its effects on the adulthood, currently, most of the efforts are focused on preventing and treating childhood obesity and its comorbidities. Nowadays, gut microbiota is gaining special interest due to its role in several functions of the human body. The development of obesity and its comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension or dyslipidaemia has been associated with the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota. Moreover, it has been reported that the composition of the gut microbiota before starting an intervention may predict the efficacy of such intervention. Most of the evidence are centred in animal models and adult populations, however, in children evidence are scarce. Within this thesis, the gut microbiota of children with obesity has been identified and characterized. A specific gut microbiota profile characterized by lower abundances of Akkermansia and Christensenellaceae and higher abundance of Bacteroides have been associated with higher cardiovascular risk. Higher abundances of Faecalibacterium and Eubacterium coprostanoligenes and lower of Bacteroides may predict a better response to a multicomponent (diet and physical activity) intervention. Knowledge gathered within this doctoral thesis may be helpful to be applied in further intervention studies aiming to test tailored interventions to modify gut microbiota profiles in children with obesity.