Abstract: |
Purpose: Sustained minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity is associated with long-term survival in multiple myeloma. The gut microbiome is affected by diet, and in turn can modulate host immunity, for example through production of short-chain fatty acids including butyrate. We hypothesized that dietary factors affect the microbiome (abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria or stool butyrate concentration) and may be associated with multiple mye-loma outcomes.Experimental Design: We examined the relationship of dietary factors (via a food frequency questionnaire), stool metabolites (via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry), and the stool micro-biome (via 16S sequencing -a-diversity and relative abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria) with sustained MRD negativity (via flow cytometry at two timepoints 1 year apart) in myeloma patients on lenalidomide maintenance. The Healthy Eating Index 2015 score and flavonoid nutrient values were calculated from the food fre-quency questionnaire. The Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to evaluate associations with two-sided P< 0.05 considered significant. Results: At 3 months, higher stool butyrate concentration (P = 0.037), butyrate producers (P= 0.025), and a-diversity (P = 0.0035) were associated with sustained MRD negativity. Healthier dietary proteins, (from seafood and plants), correlated with butyrate at 3 months (P = 0.009) and sustained MRD negativity (P = 0.05). Consumption of dietary flavonoids, plant nutrients with antioxi-dant effects, correlated with stool butyrate concentration (antho-cyanidins P = 0.01, flavones P = 0.01, and flavanols P = 0.02). Conclusions: This is the first study to demonstrate an association between a plant-based dietary pattern, stool butyrate production, and sustained MRD negativity in multiple myeloma, providing rationale to evaluate a prospective dietary intervention. |