Figure 1

Framework for analyses of three complementary data sets: adiposity/metabolic traits, fasting serum bile acids and gut metagenomics species including search for bacterial enzymes or pathways involved in biotransformation of bile acids. The analysis addresses three main questions; (i) how does the serum bile acid composition relate to markers of host metabolic health? (ii) search for microbial pathways involved in bile acids biosynthesis. Is there evidence for certain gut bacterial species to harbor a genetic potential for C-6 hydroxylated bile acid biosynthesis or their uptake from the gut to the systemic circulation? (iii) what is the relationship between gut microbiota composition (as described by communities of co-abundant species), fasting serum bile acids and metabolic phenotypes?