Vitamin B9 and B12 deficiencies lead to sex-specific alterations in intestinal microbiota and morphology

Khandkar Hossain
MSc Student
Department of Biochemistry

Date: March 13, 2023
Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Room: CSF 1302

Vitamins are the organic compounds essential for normal growth and metabolic processes in all living organisms. B vitamins, such as vitamin B9 and B12, act as cofactors in various metabolic reactions, including one-carbon metabolism, and typically require in trace amounts. The gut harbors a diverse population of bacteria, some of which can produce certain vitamins. These bacteria also require certain vitamins for their growth, with requirements varying between vitamin-producing and non-producing strains. Despite a well-understood functional role of B-vitamins, their effects on gut microbial growth and production of their metabolites remain poorly understood. To understand this effect, the current study aims to investigate the impacts of vitamin B9 and B12 deficiencies on gut morphology and microbial profile. We found deficiency of vitamin B12 can alter the normal morphology while both the vitamin can decreased acidic mucin production in the colon. Vitamin B9 deficiency altered the abundance of various bacterial genera in males, including Colidextribacter, Dorea, Frisingicoccus, Lactobacillus, Ruminococcus, and Streptococcus, while Blautia was altered in females. Similarly, vitamin B12 deficiency altered Streptococcus and Rothia in males, and Blautia and Colidextribacter in females. Future studies involved analyzing gut microbial metabolites, unrevealing the role of Colidextribacter in gut health.