Taxonomic and Functional Gut Microbiome Analysis in Human MS Participants
This study examined the gut microbiomes of 89 participants, including healthy controls and those with two types of multiple sclerosis (RRMS and SPMS). SPMS participants were older than those with RRMS. Findings indicated similar alpha diversity and microbial composition between groups, but SPMS exhibited greater microbial community variability.
- Tags
- #MSResearch
- Most relevant to
- —
- Human efficacy
- Not established from this source
- Mechanism
- Not reported
- Evidence strength
- Not graded
- Outcome
- Not reported
Why it matters
Understanding the gut microbiome's role in MS could contribute to knowledge of disease progression and potential therapeutic targets, though the findings remain exploratory.
What this does not prove
No clear differences in microbial pathways linked to symptoms were shown, and results regarding SPMS microbial variability are preliminary and not definitive.
Next milestone
No next milestone was established from the available source.
Study facts
- Study design
- Not reported
- Participants / samples
- 89 · Total participants (30 healthy controls, 29 RRMS, and 30 SPMS)
- Randomised
- No
- Controlled
- Not reported
- Primary endpoint met
- Not reported
- Relevant MS type
- Not reported
- Publication date
- 2026-10-16
- Evidence reviewed
- Abstract only
- Regulatory approval
- Not reported
- Research areas
- Not classified
- Biological target
- Not reported
- Pathway
- Not reported
- Population
- 89 participants (30 healthy controls, 29 RRMS, and 30 SPMS)
- Size of effect
- Not reported
- Secondary endpoints
- Not reported
- MRI endpoints
- Not reported
- Biomarkers
- serum GFAP; NfL; S100B
- Safety
- Not reported
Original sources
- Primary evidenceLimited Gut Microbiome Differences Between Relapsing-Remitting and Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: A Shotgun Metagenomic Study. ↗DOI: 10.3390/ijms27209166
Supporting passages (15)
sample size89
sample size basisThis cross-sectional study included 89 participants (30 healthy controls, 29 RRMS, and 30 SPMS).
randomizedNo
publication date2026-10-16
primary endpointTo characterize taxonomic and functional gut microbiome differences between relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and secondary progressive MS (SPMS) and their associations with neurological disability and circulating biomarkers.
findingsSPMS participants were substantially older than those with RRMS (median 49.0 vs.
findingsAlpha diversity and overall microbial community composition were similar across groups.
findingsSPMS showed greater interindividual microbial community dispersion than RRMS in the full cohort, with a similar direction and magnitude but attenuated statistical significance in the age-overlap sensitivity analysis.
limitationsNo robust phenotype-specific differences in predicted SCFA-related pathways or associations of taxonomic or functional features with disability or circulating biomarkers were identified.
limitationsExploratory taxonomic signals were not confirmed by FDR-controlled analyses.
limitationsGreater microbial community dispersion in SPMS was observed in the full cohort, but this finding was attenuated in the age-overlap sensitivity analysis and should be considered preliminary.
population89 participants (30 healthy controls, 29 RRMS, and 30 SPMS)
biomarkersShotgun metagenomic sequencing was used to assess microbial diversity, taxonomic profiles, and predefined short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-related pathways, integrated with disability measures and serum GFAP, NfL, and S100B.
peer reviewedPublication types: Journal Article
subjectsThis cross-sectional study included 89 participants (30 healthy controls, 29 RRMS, and 30 SPMS).
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