Faecal Microbiota in Patients with Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction and Spinal Cord Injury or Multiple Sclerosis—A Systematic Review

J. Clin. Med., 2021 · DOI: 10.3390/jcm10081598 · Published: April 9, 2021

Simple Explanation

Neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) is common in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and multiple sclerosis (MS), leading to similar symptoms and treatment challenges. The gut microbiota may influence NBD's course. This review systematically examines existing research on gut microbiota composition in SCI and MS patients, exploring how neurogenic bowel function, diet, and antibiotic use might play a role. The review found 14 relevant papers, but due to inconsistent methods and limited data, it was difficult to draw firm conclusions about gut microbiota composition in SCI and MS patients.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

479 patients (SCI and MS)

Evidence Level

Systematic Review

Key Findings

1
The review found that alpha diversity in chronic SCI patients might be lower compared to healthy controls, while alpha diversity in MS patients might be similar or lower.
2
Taxonomic changes in MS and SCI studies are diverse, indicating no uniform observations between the studies.
3
Most studies did not adequately account for potential confounding factors like diet, antibiotic use, and bowel function, making it challenging to determine their specific roles.

Research Summary

This systematic review aimed to assess the composition of the gut microbiota in patients with SCI or MS compared to healthy controls, considering the potential roles of neurogenic bowel function, diet, and antibiotic use. The review analyzed 14 papers and found limited evidence to draw strong conclusions about the composition of the gut microbiota in SCI and MS patients due to methodological variations and incomplete data on key confounding factors. Future studies should focus on collecting more comprehensive data, including dietary intake, antibiotic use, NBD, and patient characteristics, to enable more valid inferences about changes in gut microbiota.

Practical Implications

Future Research

Future research should prioritize longitudinal studies with multiple fecal samples collected over time.

Data Collection

Accurate collection and reporting of information about dietary intake, antibiotic use, and bowel function are essential.

Clinical Studies

Further research is needed to understand possible clinical consequences or therapy options related to gut microbiota composition in SCI and MS patients.

Study Limitations

1
Small datasets in included studies
2
Predominantly cross-sectional study designs
3
Methodological variations across studies (stool storage, DNA isolation, 16S rRNA gene sequencing)

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