Obesity and type 2 diabetes are serious health concerns that are disproportionately prevalent in US ethnic minorities. The gut microbiota may play a role in the development of these conditions by influencing metabolic functions that regulate energy balance and glucose homeostasis in the human host. This interplay between microbes and host involves the gut microbiota-gut-brain axis, whereby metabolite production by the gut microbiota modulates endocrine and central nervous systems signals that influence hunger, satiety, and glycemic control. Given that gut microbiota composition is influenced by diet and varies according to population characteristics, its assessment in health disparity populations is warranted. In NH, the adult Bhutanese refugee population has a high burden of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high risk for low diet quality. The goal of this project is to investigate the relationship between glycemic status, fiber intake, and components of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in a NH adult Bhutanese refugee population. This goal will be addressed through the following specific aims: 1) Determine the association between glycemic status, dietary fiber, and fecal microbiota composition in adult Bhutanese refugees. 2) Characterize the relationship between components of the gut-brain axis, dietary fiber, and fecal microbiota composition in adult Bhutanese refugees.
