The HUNT study identifies host genetic factors reproducibly associated with human gut microbiota composition
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The gut microbiota is associated with human health and disease. Here we conducted a genome-wide association study of host genetic factors influencing gut microbiota composition in 12,652 individuals from the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT), with replication in Nordic cohorts (n = 16,017-21,976). We identified 12 reproducible SNP-species associations across six genomic loci, including known (LCT, ABO) and novel (HLA-DQB1, MUC12, SLC37A2, FUT2) regions. Additionally, we detected genetic signals associated with gut microbiota functional modules at three loci (LCT, ABO, FUT2). Follow-up analyses suggest that these host-microbiota associations are linked to the pathogenesis of celiac disease and hemorrhoidal disease. Mendelian randomization analyses provided evidence supporting a causal effect of body mass index on gut microbiota composition. These findings highlight the interplay between host genetics and gut microbiota for human health and disease.
Source: Nature Genetics
Authors: Marta Riise Moksnes, Eivind Coward, Maria Nethander, Koen Dekkers, Louise Grahnemo, Anna E. Törnqvist, Lei Li, Per Lundmark, Kamalita Pertiwi, Gabriel Baldanzi, Robin Mjelle, Janne Marie Moll, Aron Charles Eklund, Henrik Bjørn Nielsen, Johan Svensson, Arnulf Langhammer, Guro F. Giskeødegård, Ben Brumpton, Rebecka Hjort, Eivind Ness-Jensen, Gunnar Engström, Thaher Pelaseyed, Karl Michaëlsson, Marju Orho-Melander, Tove Fall, Kristian Hveem, Claes Ohlsson
Institutions: University of Gothenburg, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Uppsala University, St Olav's University Hospital, Clinical Microbiomics (Denmark), Region Västra Götaland, Skaraborg Hospital, Levanger Hospital, Helse Nord-Trøndelag HF, Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Lund University, Sahlgrenska University Hospital
Language: English
Topic: Gut microbiota and health
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $12,690
Funders: Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, European Commission, VINNOVA, Lunds Universitet, Svenska Sällskapet för Medicinsk Forskning, Hjärt-Lungfonden, Linköpings Universitet, Karolinska Institutet, Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse, Novo Nordisk, Stockholms Läns Landsting, Vetenskapsrådet, Helse Midt-Norge, Umeå Universitet, Norges Forskningsråd, Sahlgrenska Universitetssjukhuset, Göteborgs Universitet, Uppsala Universitet, Novo Nordisk Fonden, Skånes universitetssjukhus, National Institutes of Health, Medical School, University of Michigan, Fakultet for medisin og helsevitenskap, Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet, Uppsala Multidisciplinary Center for Advanced Computational Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, H2020 European Research Council, HORIZON EUROPE European Research Council
Awards: G102285662, G1621382071, SIMPLER, G1969828773, G2190962903, G2197756838, Molecular profiling of the Central Swedish Cohorts & Biobank: Entering precision medicine for healthy ageing, G2322197998, G2458629289, G2512076834, G263730981, The gut microbiota and its systemic effects on metabolism and atherosclerotic disease, Personalized anti-fracture treatment, G2975900969, G3686995596, Personalized anti-fracture treatment, The role of gut microbiota in health and disease: population based studies with main focus on cardiometabolic diseases, G4007160920, Central Sweden Cohorts & Biobank, Molecular and microbial drivers of atherosclerosis, The microbiome in the gut-kidney-cardiovascular axis, G4928824683, G5177714264, Healthy Microbiota Avoiding Fractures during Ageing, Social Media Analytics and Decision Support Tools Enabling Sustainable Integration Policies and Measures, The microbiome in the gut-kidney-cardiovascular axis, G6435640130, G6558030351, G6644814744, G6838324902, Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction – a neglected risk factor for cardiovascular disease?, G712881263, G7208415259, G7569742080, Novel molecular mechanisms underlying diabetic complications, G8264231450, G8436673617, G8764181438, NAISS, G9000030685, G9000209413, G9000229157
OpenAlex ID: W7128796344