Alteration of gut microbiota by a Westernized lifestyle and its correlation with insulin resistance in non‐diabetic Japanese men

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: The severity of insulin resistance is higher in Japanese‐American people with American lifestyles than in native Japanese people with Japanese lifestyles. Recently, the role of gut microbiota in the control of host metabolic homeostasis and organ physiology has been recognized. In addition, gut microbiota alterations have been suggested to contribute to pathogenesis of insulin resistance. The principle aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of a Westernized lifestyle on the gut microbiota of Japanese‐Americans versus native Japanese, and its correlation with insulin resistance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 14 native Japanese men living in Hiroshima, Japan, and 14 Japanese‐American men living in Los Angeles, USA, were included. A 75‐g oral glucose tolerance test was carried out for all participants to assess their glucose tolerance, and normal glucose tolerance was observed. We compared the insulin response with oral glucose load, the Matsuda Index, and the composition of the gut microbiota between the native Japanese and Japanese‐American men. RESULTS: Japanese‐American men showed higher area under the curve values for serum insulin concentrations during the oral glucose tolerance test and lower Matsuda Index than native Japanese men. Gut microbiota composition of the Japanese‐American men was different; in particular, they showed a relatively lower abundance of Odoribacter than native Japanese men. The ratio between relative abundance of Odoribacter and Matsuda Index was positively correlated between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that Westernized lifestyles alter gut microbiota, and its alteration might induce insulin resistance in non‐diabetic Japanese men.