BackgroundThis study aimed to explore the association between gut microbiota functional profiles and skeletal muscle mass, focusing on sex‐specific differences in a population under 65 years of age.MethodsStool samples from participants were analysed using metagenomic shotgun sequencing. Skeletal muscle mass and skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) were quantified (SMI [%] = total appendage muscle mass [kg]/body weight [kg] × 100) using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Participants were categorized into SMI quartiles, and associations between gut microbiota, functional profiling and SMI were assessed by sex, adjusting for age, BMI and physical activity.ResultsThe cohort included 1027 participants (651 men, 376 women). In men, Escherichia coli (log2 fold change 3.08, q = 0.001), Ruminococcus_B gnavus (log2 fold change 2.89, q = 0.014) and Enterocloster sp001517625 (log2 fold change 2.47, q = 0.026) were more abundant in the lowest SMI compared to the highest SMI group. In contrast, Bifidobacterium bifidum (log2 fold change 3.13, q = 0.025) showed higher levels in the second lowest SMI group in women. Microbial pathways associated with amino acid synthesis (MET‐SAM‐PWY: log2 fold change 0.42; METSYN‐PWY: log2 fold change 0.44; SER‐GLYSYN‐PWY: log2 fold change 0.20; PWY‐5347: log2 fold change 0.41; P4‐PWY: log2 fold change 0.53), N‐acetylneuraminate degradation (log2 fold change 0.43), isoprene biosynthesis (log2 fold change 0.20) and purine nucleotide degradation and salvage (PWY‐6353: log2 fold change 0.42; PWY‐6608: log2 fold change 0.38; PWY66‐409: log2 fold change 0.52; SALVADEHYPOX‐PWY: log2 fold change 0.43) were enriched in the lowest SMI in men (q < 0.10). In women, the second lowest SMI group showed enrichment in energy‐related pathways, including lactic acid fermentation (ANAEROFRUCAT‐PWY: log2 fold change 0.19), pentose phosphate pathway (PENTOSE‐P‐PWY: log2 fold change 0.30) and carbohydrate degradation (PWY‐5484: log2 fold change 0.31; GLYCOLYSIS: log2 fold change 0.29; PWY‐6901: log2 fold change 0.27) (q < 0.05).ConclusionsThis study highlights sex‐specific differences in gut microbiota and functional pathways associated with SMI. These findings suggest that gut microbiota may play a role in muscle health and point toward microbiota‐targeted strategies for maintaining muscle mass.

中文翻译：

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宏基因组分析确定了与性别相关的肠道微生物功能和与骨骼肌质量相关的细菌分类群


背景本研究旨在探讨肠道微生物群功能特征与骨骼肌质量之间的关联，重点关注 65 岁以下人群的性别特异性差异。方法使用宏基因组鸟枪法测序分析参与者的粪便样本。使用生物电阻抗分析量化骨骼肌质量和骨骼肌质量指数 （SMI） （SMI [%] = 总附件肌质量 [kg] /体重 [kg] × 100）。参与者被分为 SMI 四分位数，并按性别评估肠道微生物群、功能分析和 SMI 之间的关联，并根据年龄、BMI 和身体活动进行调整。结果该队列包括 1027 名参与者 （651 名男性，376 名女性）。在男性中，大肠杆菌 （log2 倍变化 3.08，q = 0.001）、Ruminococcus_B gnavus （log2 倍变化 2.89，q = 0.014） 和肠蝶呤 sp001517625 （log2 倍变化 2.47，q = 0.026） 与最高 SMI 组相比，在最低 SMI 组中更丰富。相比之下，两歧双歧杆菌 （log2 倍变化 3.13，q = 0.025） 在女性第二低的 SMI 组中显示出更高的水平。与氨基酸合成相关的微生物途径 （MET-SAM-PWY：log2 倍变化 0.42;METSYN-PWY：log2 倍数变化 0.44;SER-GLYSYN-PWY：log2 倍数变化 0.20;PWY-5347：log2 倍数变化 0.41;P4-PWY：log2 倍数变化 0.53）、N-乙酰神经氨酸降解（log2 倍数变化 0.43）、异戊二烯生物合成（log2 倍数变化 0.20）和嘌呤核苷酸降解和挽救（PWY-6353：log2 倍数变化 0.42;PWY-6608：对数 2 倍变化 0.38;PWY66-409：log2 倍数变化 0.52;SALVADEHYPOX-PWY：log2 倍变化 0.43）在男性最低的 SMI 中富集 （q < 0.10）。 在女性中，第二低的 SMI 组表现出能量相关途径的富集，包括乳酸发酵（ANAEROFRUCAT-PWY：log2 倍变化 0.19）、磷酸戊糖途径（PENTOSE-P-PWY：log2 倍变化 0.30）和碳水化合物降解（PWY-5484：log2 倍变化 0.31;糖酵解：log2 倍变化 0.29;PWY-6901：log2 倍数变化 0.27） （q < 0.05）。结论本研究强调了与 SMI 相关的肠道菌群和功能通路的性别特异性差异。这些发现表明，肠道微生物群可能在肌肉健康中发挥作用，并指向维持肌肉质量的微生物群靶向策略。