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Oxycodone intervention causes immediate shift in microbiota composition and faecal SCFA accumulation in healthy humans

Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: Opioid-induced bowel dysfunction (OIBD) is a significant clinical challenge associated with opioid therapy for acute and chronic pain management. This study investigates the impact of acute oxycodone treatment on gut microbiome structure and function, focusing on microbial diversity, taxonomic composition, and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production. Healthy participants received placebo and oxycodone treatments in a double-blind, randomised, cross-over study. Faecal microbial community structure was analysed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and shotgun metagenomics. Significant reductions in microbial richness and evenness in faeces of oxycodone-treated participants were revealed, with altered taxonomic composition, including increased abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila . Functional analysis identified changes in SCFA production pathways, with higher faecal levels of acetate, butyrate, and propionate in oxycodone-treated participants. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) suggested directional separation in microbial community clustering between treatment conditions. This study highlights the potential role of the gut microbiome in the pathophysiology of OIBD, providing insights into microbial biomarkers and functional pathways affected by opioid therapy. Findings underscore the need for microbiome-targeted interventions to mitigate the gastrointestinal side effects of opioid use. https://www.clinicaltrialregister.eu/ , identifier EudraCT number: 2013-001540-60. Registered on August 1, 2013.
DOI: 10.1186/s12876-026-05252-z
Language: English
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,190
OpenAlex ID: W7204841465
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