(P20-051-23) Microbiome Diversity is Associated with Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in a Community-based Sample of People Living with HIV: Preliminary Findings from the NOURISH-OK Study

Objectives: The human microbiome plays an important role in cardiometabolic disease risk. Conversely, nutrition as well as metabolic and overall health are deeply intertwined with the composition and diversity of the oral and gastrointestinal microbiomes. As part of the Nutrition to Optimize, Understand, and Restore Insulin Sensitivity in HIV for Oklahoma (NOURISH-OK) study, we explored correlations between metabolic health, diet, food security, and years living with HIV with saliva and gut microbiota profiles in people living with HIV (PLWH).

Methods: During enrollment, study participants provided a saliva sample and were given four collection kits that allowed for self-collection of stool samples over a 4-week period. Following collection, saliva and stool samples were processed for 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence-based profiling of microbial communities (microbiota). Sequencing data were analyzed using QIIME 2 (Quantitative Insights into Microbial Ecology 2) workflows to discover correlations of microbial diversity, composition, and abundance with individual-level metadata such as diet, fruit and vegetable assistance program use, BMI, insulin resistance, and years living with HIV.

Results: Preliminary study results from the first 35 enrolled participants revealed microbial profiles in saliva were dominated by Streptococcus, Prevotella, and Veillonella bacteria, with significant variation by tobacco use (p=0.039). Among those with analyzed stool samples (n=27), stool microbiota compositions showed high dissimilarity between individual participants (p=0.001) but were remarkably stable over the 4-week sampling period within individuals. Stool microbial profiles correlated with health factors such as BMI (p=0.049) and waist circumference (p=0.049). Interestingly, long-term HIV survival history (p < 0.001) and utilization of fresh fruits and vegetables assistance programs (p=0.008) were associated with increased microbial diversity.

Conclusions: The preliminary NOURISH-OK saliva and fecal microbiota profiling sets the stage to evaluate the influence of future dietary intervention studies in PLWH. The high microbiota diversity between individuals will require individual baseline run-in controls for interpretation of study outcomes.

Funding Sources: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases