Alterations of gut microbiota and serum bile acids are associated with parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease

Parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease (PNALD) is a major complication of long-term parenteral nutrition (PN). The pathogenesis of PNALD remains unclear. We investigated the changes in taxonomic and functional composition of gut microbiota and serum bile acid levels in a rat model of PNALD. Male 4-week-old Sprague Dawley rats received either total parenteral nutrition or standard chow with 0.9% saline for 7 days. The taxonomic composition of cecal microbiota and its functional composition associated with bile acid metabolism were measured. There were differences in taxonomic composition between the two groups. The abundance of the secondary bile acid biosynthesis pathway was higher in the TPN group (p