Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39563023›Full record

ArticleJournal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle2025

Metagenomic Analysis Identifies Sex-Related Gut Microbial Functions and Bacterial Taxa Associated With Skeletal Muscle Mass.

Hang A Park, Joohon Sung, Yoosoo Chang, Seungho Ryu, Kyung Jae Yoon, Hyung-Lae Kim, Han-Na Kim

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Hang A ParkGenome and Health Big Data Laboratory, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.ORCID 0000-0002-8714-0828
Joohon SungGenome and Health Big Data Laboratory, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Yoosoo ChangCenter for Cohort Studies, Total Healthcare Center, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Seungho RyuCenter for Cohort Studies, Total Healthcare Center, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Kyung Jae YoonDepartment of Clinical Research Design and Evaluation, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Hyung-Lae KimDepartment of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Han-Na KimDepartment of Clinical Research Design and Evaluation, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.ORCID 0000-0001-7053-7469

Funding

National Research Foundation of Korea 2023R1A2C2006416
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThis study aimed to explore the association between gut microbiota functional profiles and skeletal muscle mass, focusing on sex-specific differences in a population under 65 years of age.

methodsStool samples from participants were analysed using metagenomic shotgun sequencing. Skeletal muscle mass and skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) were quantified (SMI [%] = total appendage muscle mass [kg]/body weight [kg] × 100) using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Participants were categorized into SMI quartiles, and associations between gut microbiota, functional profiling and SMI were assessed by sex, adjusting for age, BMI and physical activity.

resultsThe cohort included 1027 participants (651 men, 376 women). In men, Escherichia coli (log2 fold change 3.08, q = 0.001), Ruminococcus_B gnavus (log2 fold change 2.89, q = 0.014) and Enterocloster sp001517625 (log2 fold change 2.47, q = 0.026) were more abundant in the lowest SMI compared to the highest SMI group. In contrast, Bifidobacterium bifidum (log2 fold change 3.13, q = 0.025) showed higher levels in the second lowest SMI group in women. Microbial pathways associated with amino acid synthesis (MET-SAM-PWY: log2 fold change 0.42; METSYN-PWY: log2 fold change 0.44; SER-GLYSYN-PWY: log2 fold change 0.20; PWY-5347: log2 fold change 0.41; P4-PWY: log2 fold change 0.53), N-acetylneuraminate degradation (log2 fold change 0.43), isoprene biosynthesis (log2 fold change 0.20) and purine nucleotide degradation and salvage (PWY-6353: log2 fold change 0.42; PWY-6608: log2 fold change 0.38; PWY66-409: log2 fold change 0.52; SALVADEHYPOX-PWY: log2 fold change 0.43) were enriched in the lowest SMI in men (q < 0.10). In women, the second lowest SMI group showed enrichment in energy-related pathways, including lactic acid fermentation (ANAEROFRUCAT-PWY: log2 fold change 0.19), pentose phosphate pathway (PENTOSE-P-PWY: log2 fold change 0.30) and carbohydrate degradation (PWY-5484: log2 fold change 0.31; GLYCOLYSIS: log2 fold change 0.29; PWY-6901: log2 fold change 0.27) (q < 0.05).

conclusionsThis study highlights sex-specific differences in gut microbiota and functional pathways associated with SMI. These findings suggest that gut microbiota may play a role in muscle health and point toward microbiota-targeted strategies for maintaining muscle mass.

Indexed as

Gastrointestinal MicrobiomeMetagenomicsMuscle, SkeletalAdultBacteriaFecesFemaleHumansMaleMetagenomeMiddle Agedgut microbiomemetagenomicsmicrobial functionsarcopeniaskeletal muscle mass

Identifiers

PMID39563023
PMCPMC11670178

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.