Linking gut microbial dysbiosis to allergic rhinitis in adults: A Case–Control Study.

Abstract

Introduction: Specific patterns of gut microbial colonization have been linked to the development of allergic conditions during infancy. However, the evidence remains limited regarding whether these altered microbial patterns persist in adults with allergic rhinitis (AR).
Objective: To investigate and compare the gut microbiome composition in adults with AR versus a control group.
Methods: Stool samples from 320 adults with AR (mean age 38.5 ± 12.8 years) and 320 controls (mean age 37.2 ± 11.1 years) were analyzed. Next-generation sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene was used to determine microbial composition. Taxonomic classification was conducted using a reference-based approach with the NCBI 16S rRNA gene sequence database.
Results:In this case-control study, allergic rhinitis (AR) participants showed significantly lower gut microbial diversity (Shannon index: 4.28 ± 0.62 vs. 4.71 ± 0.54 in controls, p = 0.029) and distinct microbial community composition (PERMANOVA p = 0.015). The AR group had lower Prevotella abundance (1.8 ± 0.6% vs. 4.5 ± 0.9%, p = 0.015) and higher Escherichia abundance (0.6 ± 0.2% vs. 0.2 ± 0.1%, p = 0.001), with Prevotella inversely and Escherichia positively associated with AR risk. These findings highlight significant gut microbiome alterations in AR, supporting the role of microbial dysbiosis in disease pathogenesis.

Conclusion: Adults with AR demonstrate a unique gut microbiome profile characterized by reduced diversity and notable shifts in microbial abundance compared to controls. These findings highlight the need for further mechanistic studies to explore the implications of these microbial patterns in AR.