Background/objectives: Pre-treatment gut microbial Prevotella-to-Bacteroides (P/B) ratio and markers of glucose metabolism (i.e., fasting glucose and insulin) have been suggested as biomarkers for optimal weight management. However, both biomarkers need further validation, and the interactions between them for optimal weight management are largely unknown. To investigate differences in weight loss maintenance between subjects with low and high P/B ratio and the potential interactions with markers of glucose metabolism and dietary fiber intake.
Subjects/methods: Following an 8-week weight loss period using meal replacement products, subjects losing ≥ 8% of their initial body weight were randomized to one of three protein supplements or maltodextrin for a 24-week weight maintenance period. Habitual diet was consumed along with the supplements expected to constitute 10-15% of total energy. For this analysis we stratified the participants into low and high strata based on median values of pre-intervention P/B ratio, pre-weight loss Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (<2.33 or > 2.33), and dietary fiber intake during the intervention (< 28.5 or > 28.5 g/10 MJ).
Results: Regardless of weight maintenance regimen, subjects with high P/B ratio (n = 63) regained 1.5 (95% CI 0.4, 2.7) kg body weight (P = 0.007) more than subjects with low P/B ratio (n = 63). The regain among subjects with high P/B ratio was particular evident if HOMA-IR was high and dietary fiber intake was low. Consequently, in the high P/B strata, subjects with high HOMA-IR and low fiber intake (n = 17) regained 5.3 (95% CI 3.3, 7.3) kg (P < 0.001) more body weight compared with participants with low HOMA-IR and high fiber intake (n = 16).
Conclusions: Subjects with high P/B ratio were more susceptible to regain body weight compared with subjects with low P/B ratio, especially when dietary fiber intake was low and glucose metabolism was impaired. These observations underline that both the P/B ratio and markers of glucose metabolism should be considered as important biomarkers within personalized nutrition for optimal weight management.