Gut Microbiota and Fear Processing in Women Affected by Obesity: An Exploratory Pilot Study
The microbiota–gut–brain axis extends beyond visceral perception, influencing higher-order brain structures, and ultimately psychological functions, such as fear processing. In this exploratory pilot study, we attempted to provide novel experimental evidence of a relationship between gut microbiota...
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/18/3788 |
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| author | Federica Scarpina Silvia Turroni Sara Mambrini Monica Barone Stefania Cattaldo Stefania Mai Elisa Prina Ilaria Bastoni Simone Cappelli Gianluca Castelnuovo Patrizia Brigidi Massimo Scacchi Alessandro Mauro |
| author_facet | Federica Scarpina Silvia Turroni Sara Mambrini Monica Barone Stefania Cattaldo Stefania Mai Elisa Prina Ilaria Bastoni Simone Cappelli Gianluca Castelnuovo Patrizia Brigidi Massimo Scacchi Alessandro Mauro |
| author_sort | Federica Scarpina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The microbiota–gut–brain axis extends beyond visceral perception, influencing higher-order brain structures, and ultimately psychological functions, such as fear processing. In this exploratory pilot study, we attempted to provide novel experimental evidence of a relationship between gut microbiota composition and diversity, and fear-processing in obesity, through a behavioral approach. Women affected by obesity were enrolled and profiled for gut microbiota, through 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Moreover, we tested their ability to recognize facial fearful expressions through an implicit-facial-emotion-recognition task. Finally, a traditional self-report questionnaire was used to assess their temperamental traits. The participants exhibited an unbalanced gut microbiota profile, along with impaired recognition of fearful expressions. Interestingly, dysbiosis was more severe in those participants with altered behavioral performance, with a decrease in typically health-associated microbes, and an increase in the potential pathobiont, Collinsella. Moreover, Collinsella was related to a lower expression of the persistence temperamental trait, while a higher expression of the harm-avoidance temperament, related to fear-driven anxiety symptoms, was linked to Lactobacillus. Once confirmed, our findings could pave the way for the design of innovative microbiome-based strategies for the treatment of psychological and emotional difficulties by mitigating obesity-related consequences and behaviors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:55:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-875fa81496294924be077f1cfc1c4a3e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:55:14Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-875fa81496294924be077f1cfc1c4a3e2023-11-23T18:12:00ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432022-09-011418378810.3390/nu14183788Gut Microbiota and Fear Processing in Women Affected by Obesity: An Exploratory Pilot StudyFederica Scarpina0Silvia Turroni1Sara Mambrini2Monica Barone3Stefania Cattaldo4Stefania Mai5Elisa Prina6Ilaria Bastoni7Simone Cappelli8Gianluca Castelnuovo9Patrizia Brigidi10Massimo Scacchi11Alessandro Mauro12“Rita Levi Montalcini” Department of Neurosciences, University of Turin, Via Cherasco 15, 10126 Turin, ItalyUnit of Microbiome Science and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, ItalyI.R.C.C.S. Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Laboratorio di Ricerca Metabolica, Ospedale San Giuseppe, Str. L Cadorna 90, 28824 Piancavallo, ItalyUnit of Microbiome Science and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, ItalyI.R.C.C.S. Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Laboratorio di Neurobiologia Clinica, Ospedale San Giuseppe, Str. L Cadorna 90, 28824 Piancavallo, ItalyI.R.C.C.S. Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Laboratorio di Ricerca Metabolica, Ospedale San Giuseppe, Str. L Cadorna 90, 28824 Piancavallo, ItalyI.R.C.C.S. Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Laboratorio di Ricerca Metabolica, Ospedale San Giuseppe, Str. L Cadorna 90, 28824 Piancavallo, ItalyI.R.C.C.S. Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Laboratorio di Psicologia, Ospedale San Giuseppe, Str. L Cadorna 90, 28824 Piancavallo, ItalyI.R.C.C.S. Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Laboratorio di Psicologia, Ospedale San Giuseppe, Str. L Cadorna 90, 28824 Piancavallo, ItalyI.R.C.C.S. Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Laboratorio di Psicologia, Ospedale San Giuseppe, Str. L Cadorna 90, 28824 Piancavallo, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Microbiomics, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 11, 40126 Bologna, ItalyI.R.C.C.S. Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Divisione di Medicina Generale ad indirizzo Endocrino-Metabolico, Ospedale San Giuseppe, Str. L Cadorna 90, 28824 Piancavallo, Italy“Rita Levi Montalcini” Department of Neurosciences, University of Turin, Via Cherasco 15, 10126 Turin, ItalyThe microbiota–gut–brain axis extends beyond visceral perception, influencing higher-order brain structures, and ultimately psychological functions, such as fear processing. In this exploratory pilot study, we attempted to provide novel experimental evidence of a relationship between gut microbiota composition and diversity, and fear-processing in obesity, through a behavioral approach. Women affected by obesity were enrolled and profiled for gut microbiota, through 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Moreover, we tested their ability to recognize facial fearful expressions through an implicit-facial-emotion-recognition task. Finally, a traditional self-report questionnaire was used to assess their temperamental traits. The participants exhibited an unbalanced gut microbiota profile, along with impaired recognition of fearful expressions. Interestingly, dysbiosis was more severe in those participants with altered behavioral performance, with a decrease in typically health-associated microbes, and an increase in the potential pathobiont, Collinsella. Moreover, Collinsella was related to a lower expression of the persistence temperamental trait, while a higher expression of the harm-avoidance temperament, related to fear-driven anxiety symptoms, was linked to Lactobacillus. Once confirmed, our findings could pave the way for the design of innovative microbiome-based strategies for the treatment of psychological and emotional difficulties by mitigating obesity-related consequences and behaviors.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/18/3788obesitygut microbiotadysbiosisfacial emotion recognitionfeartemperament |
| spellingShingle | Federica Scarpina Silvia Turroni Sara Mambrini Monica Barone Stefania Cattaldo Stefania Mai Elisa Prina Ilaria Bastoni Simone Cappelli Gianluca Castelnuovo Patrizia Brigidi Massimo Scacchi Alessandro Mauro Gut Microbiota and Fear Processing in Women Affected by Obesity: An Exploratory Pilot Study Nutrients obesity gut microbiota dysbiosis facial emotion recognition fear temperament |
| title | Gut Microbiota and Fear Processing in Women Affected by Obesity: An Exploratory Pilot Study |
| title_full | Gut Microbiota and Fear Processing in Women Affected by Obesity: An Exploratory Pilot Study |
| title_fullStr | Gut Microbiota and Fear Processing in Women Affected by Obesity: An Exploratory Pilot Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gut Microbiota and Fear Processing in Women Affected by Obesity: An Exploratory Pilot Study |
| title_short | Gut Microbiota and Fear Processing in Women Affected by Obesity: An Exploratory Pilot Study |
| title_sort | gut microbiota and fear processing in women affected by obesity an exploratory pilot study |
| topic | obesity gut microbiota dysbiosis facial emotion recognition fear temperament |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/18/3788 |
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