Changes in the Firmicutes to Bacteriodetes ratio in the gut microbiome in individuals with anorexia nervosa following inpatient treatment: A systematic review and a case series

Objective

Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate among psychiatric illnesses. Current treatments remain ineffective for a large fraction of patients. This may be due to unclear mechanisms behind its development and maintenance. Studies exploring the role of the gut microbiome have revealed inconsistent evidence of dysbiosis. This article aims to investigate changes in the gut microbiome, particularly, mean differences in the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio, in adolescent and adult individuals with anorexia nervosa following inpatient treatment.

Methods

Longitudinal studies investigating gut microbiome composition in inpatient populations of anorexia nervosa before and after treatment were systematically reviewed. Additionally, gut microbiome compositions were characterized in three acute anorexia nervosa inpatients early after admission and after 4–12 weeks of treatment.

Results

Review results indicated an increase in the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio in individuals with anorexia nervosa after treatment. These however did not match values of their healthy counterparts. In the case-series samples, the reverse occurred with samples taken 4 weeks after treatment. In the patient who provided an extra sample 12 weeks after treatment, similar results to the studies included in the review were observed. Furthermore, Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio values in the case-series samples were notably higher in the two patients who had chronic anorexia nervosa.

Discussion

Differences in methodologies, small sample sizes, and insufficient data limited the generalizability of the outcomes of the reviewed studies. Results suggest a potentially unique microbiome signature in individuals with chronic anorexia nervosa, which may explain different outcomes in this group of patients.