Analysis of fecal microbiota, organic acids and plasma lipids in hepatic cancer patients with or without liver cirrhosis

Summary Background & aims Changes in the microbiota composition are able to affect nutrient absorption and energy metabolism, but there are few human studies. The aims were to analyze fecal constituents quantitatively and compare them with liver dysfunction in hepatic cancer patients and to evaluate the relationships among intestinal microbiota, fecal organic acids and plasma lipid composition. Methods Fecal samples collected from 46 hepatic cancer patients (with liver cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis or liver fibrosis and normal liver) were evaluated for fecal constituents. Blood organic acid, lipid and fatty acid concentrations were analyzed. Results Fecal microbiota and organic acids showed no significant differences among different liver dysfunction patients. In normal liver patients, fecal Candida was positively correlated with plasma phospholipid while Bifidobacterium was negatively correlated with plasma eicosapentaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid/arachidonic acid ratio (all p Lactobacillus and docosahexaenoic acid and Candida and eicosapentaenoic acid or eicosapentaenoic acid/arachidonic acid ratio (all p Conclusions Intestinal microbiota and organic acid concentrations in hepatic cancer patients had positive and/or negative correlations with serum lipid levels.