Gut microbiota alterations in adult individuals with obesity and insulin resistance: Its association with metabolic parameters and body compositions

An emerging body of evidence has highlighted the complex interplay among obesity, insulin resistance, and the gut microbiota. This observational study aimed to evaluate differences in intestinal microbiome profiles between individuals with obesity, with and without insulin resistance. Twenty individuals with obesity aged 20-50 years were enrolled and categorized according to insulin resistance status (N = 10 per group), as determined using the Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). Fasting blood samples were collected and analyzed for glucose, lipid profiles, insulin, free fatty acids, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). Fecal DNA was extracted, and its quantity and quality were assessed.The V3-V4 region of 16s rRNA was amplified using specific primers, purified, and sequenced on the MiSeq Illumina platform with paired-end reads. The two groups showed notable disparities in fasting glucose (p=0.002), insulin (p