Mediation effect and metabolic pathways of gut microbiota in the associations between lifestyles and dyslipidemia.

Whether the role of gut microbial features lies in the pathways from lifestyles to dyslipidemia remains unclear. In this cross-sectional study, we conducted a metagenome-wide association analysis and fecal metabolomic profiling in 994 adults from the China Multi-Ethnic cohort. A total of 26 microbial species were identified as mediators between lifestyle factors and risk for dyslipidemia. Specifically, the abundance of [Ruminococcus] gnavus mediated the associations between lifestyles and risks for dyslipidemia, elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, elevated total cholesterol, and elevated triglycerides. [Ruminococcus] gnavus, Alistipes shahii, and Lachnospira eligens were replicated to be associated with dyslipidemia in an external validation cohort. The potential metabolic pathways included arachidonic acid, bile acid, and aromatic amino-acid metabolism.