Gut microbiome alterations at acute myeloid leukemia diagnosis are associated with muscle weakness and anorexiaOriginal paper
Karen Pendergrass is a microbiome researcher specializing in microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs). She systematically analyzes scientific literature to identify microbial patterns, develop hypotheses, and validate interventions. As the founder of the Microbiome Signatures Database, she bridges microbiome research with clinical practice. In 2012, based on her own investigative research, she became the first documented case of FMT for Celiac Disease, four years before the first published case study.
Read MoreWhat was studied?
This study investigated whether the gut microbiome is altered in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) at diagnosis, and whether such alterations are associated with hallmarks of cachexia such as muscle weakness and anorexia. Researchers analyzed the composition and functional potential of the fecal microbiota using shotgun metagenomics, alongside fecal, blood, and urinary metabolomics. The goal was to link microbiome changes to altered gut function, redox status, and glycemic disorders observed in AML patients.
Who was studied?
The study included 30 antibiotic-free AML patients evaluated at diagnosis, matched 1:1 with healthy volunteers, in a multicenter, cross-sectional, prospective design. Biological samples and clinical data were collected from both groups for comparison. No further demographic details are given in the abstract.
What were the most important findings?
AML patients showed muscle weakness, anorexia, signs of altered gut function, and glycemic disorders compared to controls. The fecal microbiota composition differed between AML patients and controls, marked by an increase in oral bacteria, and functional and metabolomic alterations pointed to an altered redox status in the gut. Eubacterium eligens was reduced threefold in AML patients and was strongly correlated with muscle strength and with citrulline, a marker of enterocyte mass and function, while Blautia and Parabacteroides were increased in patients with AML.
What are the greatest implications of this study?
The findings suggest that gut microbiome alterations in AML are linked to cachexia-related features such as muscle weakness and anorexia, rather than being incidental. The strong correlation between reduced Eubacterium eligens and both muscle strength and citrulline points to a possible gut-muscle axis worth further investigation in AML. These results may support future research into the gut microbiota as a marker or target related to nutritional and muscular decline in AML patients.