Christensenella

Christensenella typically refers to Christensenella minuta, a type of beneficial bacteria found in the human gut. Though research on Christensenella is still emerging, it has been linked with various positive aspects of human health, including:

1. Body weight regulation: Studies suggest that Christensenella may be linked to lean body mass, as it is more abundant in individuals with lower body mass index (BMI). It might play a role in regulating body weight and preventing obesity.¹Waters JL, Ley RE. The human gut bacteria Christensenellaceae are widespread, heritable, and associated with health. BMC Biol. 2019 Oct 28;17(1):83. doi: 10.1186/s12915-019-0699-4.²Mazier W, Le Corf K, Martinez C, Tudela H, Kissi D, Kropp C, Coubard C, Soto M, Elustondo F, Rawadi G, Claus SP. A New Strain of Christensenella minuta as a Potential Biotherapy for Obesity and Associated Metabolic Diseases. Cells. 2021 Apr 6;10(4):823. doi: 10.3390/cells10040823.³Zou Y, Xue W, Lin X, Hu T, Liu SW, Sun CH, Luo G, Lv M, Dai Y, Kristiansen K, Xiao L. Taxonomic Description and Genome Sequence of Christensenella intestinihominis sp. nov., a Novel Cholesterol-Lowering Bacterium Isolated From Human Gut. Front Microbiol. 2021 Feb 22;12:632361. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.632361
2. Gut microbiome diversity: Christensenella contributes to a diverse gut microbiome, which is generally considered beneficial for overall health and resilience against diseases.⁴Goodrich, Julia K., Waters, Jillian L., Poole, Angela C., Sutter, Jessica L., Koren, O., Blekhman, R., . . . Ley, Ruth E. (2014). Human Genetics Shape the Gut Microbiome. Cell, 159(4), 789-799. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2014.09.053⁵Menni, C., Jackson, M., Pallister, T. et al. Gut microbiome diversity and high-fibre intake are related to lower long-term weight gain. Int J Obes 41, 1099–1105 (2017). doi: 10.1038/ijo.2017.66.
3. Immune system support: Like other beneficial gut bacteria, Christensenella is likely to play a role in supporting the immune system by interacting with gut cells and regulating immune responses. Christensenella may also help suppress the growth of harmful pathogenic bacteria in the gut, thus preventing their overgrowth and the health issues that arise as a result.⁶Yang, Y., Gu, H., Sun, Q., & Wang, J. (2018). Effects of Christensenella minuta lipopolysaccharide on RAW 264.7 macrophages activation. Microb Pathog, 125, 411-417. doi: 10.1016/j.micpath.2018.10.005⁷Kropp, C., Le Corf, K., Relizani, K. et al. The Keystone commensal bacterium Christensenella minuta DSM 22607 displays anti-inflammatory properties both in vitro and in vivo. Sci Rep 11, 11494 (2021). doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-90885-1

In summary, Christensenella is a beneficial gut microbe that may contribute to body weight regulation, gut microbiome diversity, immune system support, and inhibition of harmful pathogenic bacteria. The research needed to fully understand its role and applications in human health continues to grow.

What are the best sources of Christensenella?

Christensenella is a native microbe of the human gut. There are no food sources. Food supplements are currently being tested in clinical trials.⁸Mazier W, Le Corf K, Martinez C, Tudela H, Kissi D, Kropp C, Coubard C, Soto M, Elustondo F, Rawadi G, Claus SP. A New Strain of Christensenella minuta as a Potential Biotherapy for Obesity and Associated Metabolic Diseases. Cells. 2021 Apr 6;10(4):823. doi: 10.3390/cells10040823.

What foods can Christensenella feed on?

The specifics of what Christensenella feeds on are not yet well understood, so it’s not possible to make specific food recommendations for increasing or maintaining levels of this particular microbe. However, A study in Valencia, Spain, showed that in addition to being associated with a low BMI, Christensenella is present in greater numbers in individuals eating a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil, fresh vegetables and whole grains and low in refined carbohydrates and sugars.⁹Garcia-Mantrana I, Selma-Royo M, Alcantara C, Collado MC. Shifts on Gut Microbiota Associated to Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Specific Dietary Intakes on General Adult Population. Front Microbiol. 2018 May 7;9:890. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00890. Interestingly, members of the Christensenella family (Christensenellaceae) are reported to be higher in relative abundance in women who eat an omnivorous diet during early pregnancy, relative to vegetarians ¹⁰Barrett HL, Gomez-Arango LF, Wilkinson SA, McIntyre HD, Callaway LK, Morrison M, Dekker Nitert M. A Vegetarian Diet Is a Major Determinant of Gut Microbiota Composition in Early Pregnancy. Nutrients. 2018 Jul 12;10(7):890. doi: 10.3390/nu10070890. and has also been associated with dairy consumption.¹¹De Filippis F, Pellegrini N, Vannini L, Jeffery IB, La Storia A, Laghi L, Serrazanetti DI, Di Cagno R, Ferrocino I, Lazzi C, Turroni S, Cocolin L, Brigidi P, Neviani E, Gobbetti M, O’Toole PW, Ercolini D. High-level adherence to a Mediterranean diet beneficially impacts the gut microbiota and associated metabolome. Gut. 2016 Nov;65(11):1812-1821. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2015-309957.

Where to find Christensenella in the Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Test

You can find your Christensenella score in the “Metabolic regulators” section of the “Probiotics” report in the Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Test.

Synonyms: Christensenella minuta, C. minuta, metabolic regulators, metabolism-regulating bacteria

Important disclaimer

The Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Handbook is an educational resource built to translate complex science into plain English. The information provided on this page is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your GP or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Always check with your GP for interactions with medications/health conditions before changing your diet or starting to take food supplements.

References

• 1
  Waters JL, Ley RE. The human gut bacteria Christensenellaceae are widespread, heritable, and associated with health. BMC Biol. 2019 Oct 28;17(1):83. doi: 10.1186/s12915-019-0699-4.
• 2
  Mazier W, Le Corf K, Martinez C, Tudela H, Kissi D, Kropp C, Coubard C, Soto M, Elustondo F, Rawadi G, Claus SP. A New Strain of Christensenella minuta as a Potential Biotherapy for Obesity and Associated Metabolic Diseases. Cells. 2021 Apr 6;10(4):823. doi: 10.3390/cells10040823.
• 3
  Zou Y, Xue W, Lin X, Hu T, Liu SW, Sun CH, Luo G, Lv M, Dai Y, Kristiansen K, Xiao L. Taxonomic Description and Genome Sequence of Christensenella intestinihominis sp. nov., a Novel Cholesterol-Lowering Bacterium Isolated From Human Gut. Front Microbiol. 2021 Feb 22;12:632361. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.632361
• 4
  Goodrich, Julia K., Waters, Jillian L., Poole, Angela C., Sutter, Jessica L., Koren, O., Blekhman, R., . . . Ley, Ruth E. (2014). Human Genetics Shape the Gut Microbiome. Cell, 159(4), 789-799. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2014.09.053
• 5
  Menni, C., Jackson, M., Pallister, T. et al. Gut microbiome diversity and high-fibre intake are related to lower long-term weight gain. Int J Obes 41, 1099–1105 (2017). doi: 10.1038/ijo.2017.66.
• 6
  Yang, Y., Gu, H., Sun, Q., & Wang, J. (2018). Effects of Christensenella minuta lipopolysaccharide on RAW 264.7 macrophages activation. Microb Pathog, 125, 411-417. doi: 10.1016/j.micpath.2018.10.005
• 7
  Kropp, C., Le Corf, K., Relizani, K. et al. The Keystone commensal bacterium Christensenella minuta DSM 22607 displays anti-inflammatory properties both in vitro and in vivo. Sci Rep 11, 11494 (2021). doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-90885-1
• 8
  Mazier W, Le Corf K, Martinez C, Tudela H, Kissi D, Kropp C, Coubard C, Soto M, Elustondo F, Rawadi G, Claus SP. A New Strain of Christensenella minuta as a Potential Biotherapy for Obesity and Associated Metabolic Diseases. Cells. 2021 Apr 6;10(4):823. doi: 10.3390/cells10040823.
• 9
  Garcia-Mantrana I, Selma-Royo M, Alcantara C, Collado MC. Shifts on Gut Microbiota Associated to Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Specific Dietary Intakes on General Adult Population. Front Microbiol. 2018 May 7;9:890. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00890.
• 10
  Barrett HL, Gomez-Arango LF, Wilkinson SA, McIntyre HD, Callaway LK, Morrison M, Dekker Nitert M. A Vegetarian Diet Is a Major Determinant of Gut Microbiota Composition in Early Pregnancy. Nutrients. 2018 Jul 12;10(7):890. doi: 10.3390/nu10070890.
• 11
  De Filippis F, Pellegrini N, Vannini L, Jeffery IB, La Storia A, Laghi L, Serrazanetti DI, Di Cagno R, Ferrocino I, Lazzi C, Turroni S, Cocolin L, Brigidi P, Neviani E, Gobbetti M, O’Toole PW, Ercolini D. High-level adherence to a Mediterranean diet beneficially impacts the gut microbiota and associated metabolome. Gut. 2016 Nov;65(11):1812-1821. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2015-309957.

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