Association of iron supplementation and anticonvulsant drugs with microbial composition (based on 16S rRNA sequencing) and metabolism

Please briefly describe your study aim and plan in no more than 4000 characters. Include:   A. outline of the study design and methodology;    B. proposed use of the requested data;    C. timeline;

A: Study design: To understand the association between microbial composition and metabolism with iron and anticonvulsant drug intake. 

Reason of the request: We are working on a cohort from Alberta's Tomorrow Project. Based on the data analysis so far, we already find some interesting associations with microbiota and metabolites, but with limited power of analysis, N <10 patients. We hope to increase the power by combining participants from Lifelines Deep cohort.

About Alberta’s Tomorrow Project:  Alberta’s Tomorrow Project is a prospective, population-based cohort started in 1999, with over 50,000 individuals enrolled to date. A small sample of participants (~1,000) from the cohort were randomly selected and recontacted via phone or email (Calgary, AB, Canada) for participation in the study.  For investigating the association between drugs/supplements with gut microbiota, a total of 443 individuals (28.2% males and 71.8% females) between the age of 38-65 years were recruited for the study based on their age, BMI, medical history, and health status. 

Methodology: By combining the results from Lifelines Deep and Alberta's Tomorrow Project (we already have in hand), we will specifically look at 16S rRNA data and metabolomics from participants with iron and anticonvulsant drug intake. Multivariable regression methods such as Maaslin2 and  Adonis will be employed.

B: The requested data will only be used in house at the lab of Dr. Jane Shearer at University of Calgary. The data output will be used for drafting manuscript and publications. We will acknowledge the data source wherever applied in publications and presentations.

C: Timeline: July 2023 - July 2024