Association of gut microbiota alterations with metabolic syndrome in older adults: Bushehr elderly health (BEH) program.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a significant health concern in older adults, increasing the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The high prevalence of MetS, particularly among aging populations, highlights the need to understand its underlying mechanisms. Previous studies have shown that gut microbiota dysbiosis is associated with MetS. The aim of this study is to compare gut microbiota composition between older adults with and without MetS. Methods: Data from 289 older adults who participated in phase 3 of the Bushehr Elderly Health (BEH) program were used in this study. MetS was defined based on ATP III established criteria. Clinical, anthropometric, and biochemical parameters were assessed, and stool samples were analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR targeting six specific bacterial genera. Multiple logistic regression was used for statistical analysis, with confounders identified using a Directed Acyclic Graph. Results: The mean ± SD age of the participants was 72.78 ± 3.08 years and 165 (57.10%) were men. Ninety-seven (33.57%) of the participants were diagnosed with MetS. Results revealed significant differences in weight, BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, and metabolic markers between the groups. Gut microbiota analysis showed that participants with MetS had significantly lower abundances of Bacteroides (odds ratio [OR]: 0.839, 95% CI: 0.795-0.991, P = 0.041), Blautia (OR: 0.644, 95% CI: 0.455-0.910, P = 0.013), and Faecalibacterium (OR: 0.782, 95% CI: 0.617-0.990, P = 0.041) after adjusting for confounders. Conclusion: These findings suggest that gut microbiota alterations are associated with MetS in older adults, and modulating microbial composition can be considered as a potential therapeutic target to improve metabolic health. Further research should explore microbiota-targeted interventions as a strategy for managing MetS and promoting healthy aging. Graphical abstract: Alteration of gut microbiota in metabolic syndrome.