Heal House Vitiligo Research 71 · Original Article
Are Gut Bacteria Related to the Spread of Vitiligo?
Characterization of Gut Microbiota in Patients with Active Spreading Vitiligo Based on Whole-Genome Shotgun Sequencing
In short
The composition of gut bacteria in patients with actively spreading vitiligo was distinctly different from that of healthy people. This suggests a possible connection between the gut and the skin.
You may find it surprising that the gut comes up when we are talking about a skin condition. However, the role of gut bacteria has recently been gaining attention in various autoimmune diseases. Genetics contributes about 30% to vitiligo. That leaves the rest to the environment, and we wanted to know what role gut bacteria might play in it. So we carried out a detailed comparison of the gut bacteria of patients whose vitiligo is currently spreading and of healthy individuals. I took part in this study as a co-researcher.
Q1 How did the gut bacteria of patients differ from those of healthy people?
The gut microbiome composition of patients with spreading vitiligo was clearly different from that of healthy individuals. The patient group showed an imbalance, skewed toward specific bacterial groups (Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes). Beneficial bacteria such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii were noticeably reduced. Conversely, some bacteria like Bifidobacterium bifidum were increased. This imbalance in gut bacteria was observed together with spreading vitiligo. The key changes are summarized in the table below.
Gut bacteria altered in vitiligo patients (compared to healthy controls)
| Gut bacteria | Change in vitiligo patients | In simple terms |
|---|---|---|
| Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, etc. | Decreased | Representative beneficial bacteria reduced |
| Bifidobacterium bifidum | Increased | Some bacteria were actually increased |
| Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes (overall balance) | Skewed | Imbalance in bacterial composition |
Q2 How might these differences be linked to vitiligo?
Gut bacteria help regulate our immune system. Therefore, when their balance is disrupted, it can affect autoimmune responses. In this analysis, differences were found not only in the types of bacteria but also in the substances they produce. In patients, the pathway for producing specific sugars (O-glycans) was more active, while in healthy individuals, the pathway for processing riboflavin was more active. This suggests the possibility of the so-called gut-skin axis, where changes originating in the gut influence skin immunity. However, this is an observation of a correlation. Whether the gut bacteria are a cause or a result needs to be clarified further.
Closing remarks
If gut bacteria are indeed involved in the spread of vitiligo, new approaches such as dietary adjustments or modulation of beneficial bacteria might one day help treatment. This study provides the first clues that open the door to that possibility. There is still a long way to go. Nevertheless, it is an interesting starting point in that it broadens the perspective from just the skin to inside the body.
