Anaerostipes

Classification and Prevalence#

Anaerostipes belongs to the Lachnospiraceae family (Clostridium cluster XIVa), closely related to Roseburia, Coprococcus, and Butyrivibrio. Two species dominate:

• A. caccae: present in ~66% of healthy adults
• A. hadrus: present in ~80% of healthy adults; the more prevalent species and primary lactate utilizer in most individuals

Both species are among the most common lactate-utilizing genera in the human gut,^{[1]Louis et al. 2022 — Microbial Lactate Utilisation and the Stability of the Gut MicrobiomeLouis P, et al. · 2022Open reference 1 ↓} making Anaerostipes an essential functional node in the fermentation network.

Disease Depletion—Broad and Consistent#

Anaerostipes is depleted across a remarkably broad range of diseases, always with convergent downstream consequences (lactate accumulation, butyrate deficiency):

Chronic Kidney Disease#

Depleted in CKD alongside Blautia, Coprococcus, Lachnospira, and Roseburia as part of the Lachnospiraceae decline that begins at stage 3b.^{[5]Yasuno et al. 2024 — Dysbiosis of Gut Microbiota in CKDYasuno, Nakahama, Kurogi et al. · 2024Open reference 5 ↓} Butyrate deficit contributes to uremic toxin accumulation and systemic Metal-Driven Inflammation characteristic of CKD Dysbiosis.

Multiple Sclerosis#

Listed among the depleted taxa in MS Gut Microbiome characterization, alongside Faecalibacterium and multiple Clostridia cluster IV/XIVa species.^{[6]Dysbiosis in the Gut Microbiota of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis, with a Striking Depletion of Species Belonging to Clostridia XIVa and IV ClustersSachiko Miyake, Sangwan Kim, Wataru Suda et al. · 2015Open reference 6 ↓} The loss of butyrate producers in MS parallels reduced gut-brain axis regulatory capacity.

Graves' Disease Orbitopathy#

Anaerostipes and Firmicutes broadly are significantly downregulated in Graves' orbitopathy patients, with corresponding decreases in serum ILA, IPA, and IAA.^{[3]Tryptophan metabolites exert potential therapeutic activity in Graves' orbitopathy by ameliorating orbital fibroblasts inflammation and proliferationYang W, Xu X, Xie R et al. · 2025Open reference 3 ↓} This links Anaerostipes depletion to both butyrate deficiency and tryptophan metabolite depletion in the context of thyroid autoimmunity.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (Constipation-Predominant)#

Anaerostipes is depleted in constipated ASD children, contributing to the broader SCFA deficit in ASD gut dysbiosis.^{[7]He 2023 — Altered Gut Microbiota and Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Chinese Children with Constipated Autism Spectrum DisorderJianquan He, Xiuhua Gong, Bing Hu et al. · 2023Open reference 7 ↓} The lactate accumulation from Anaerostipes loss may contribute to the intestinal discomfort and constipation common in ASD.

Type 1 Diabetes#

Reduced Anaerostipes is part of the broader loss of butyrate-producing Lachnospiraceae that precedes T1D onset, impacting mucosal immune regulation in the critical period of pancreatic beta cell autoimmunity.

Long COVID#

Persistent Anaerostipes depletion documented in post-COVID gut microbiome studies, potentially contributing to ongoing gut barrier dysfunction and systemic inflammation in long COVID.

Schizophrenia#

Butyrate-producing Lachnospiraceae are enriched in healthy controls compared to SCZ patients, with Anaerostipes among the protective taxa enriched in controls in schizophrenia microbiome profiling.^{[8]Functional Associations of the Gut Microbiome with Dopamine, Serotonin, and BDNF in Schizophrenia: A Pilot StudyGhorbani M, Joseph GBS, Tew MM et al. · 2024Open reference 8 ↓}

GERD—An Unexpected Risk Association#

In Mendelian randomization analysis of gut microbiota and gastroesophageal reflux disease, Anaerostipes shows an increased GERD risk (OR=1.09, p=0.017).^{[9]Causal relationship between gut microbiota and risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease: a genetic correlation and bidirectional Mendelian randomization studyWang K, Wang S, Chen Y et al. · 2024Open reference 9 ↓}

This counter-intuitive finding—a butyrate producer associated with increased GERD risk—may reflect the distinct immune environment of the upper GI tract where SCFA-mediated effects differ from those in the colon, or may represent reverse causation.

What Wikipedia Doesn't Cover#

Wikipedia has no Anaerostipes entry.

This page provides: prevalence data for A. caccae and A. hadrus in healthy adults; the lactate-to-butyrate relay mechanism with Candida immune evasion consequences; ILA production as a tryptophan-AhR metabolism link; heavy metal vulnerability of iron (Fe)-S cluster enzymes; and the unexplained GERD risk association (an open question for the field).

Cross-References#

• butyrate—primary product from lactate conversion
• Candida albicans—enabled by lactate accumulation from Anaerostipes loss; beta-glucan masking
• Bifidobacterium—upstream lactate producer in the cross-feeding chain
• Lactobacillus—upstream lactate producer
• Lachnospiraceae—family; shared depletion-in-disease pattern
• Faecalibacterium prausnitzii—complementary butyrate producer; co-depleted in many conditions
• Multiple Sclerosis—depleted in MS gut microbiome
• Chronic Kidney Disease—depleted as part of Lachnospiraceae decline from CKD stage 3b
• Graves' Disease—depleted in GO alongside Firmicutes; ILA reduction
• Autism Spectrum Disorder—depleted in constipation-predominant ASD
• Iron—iron (Fe)-S clusters essential for butyryl-CoA dehydrogenase
• Cadmium—heavy metal stress depletes butyrate-producing Lachnospiraceae
• Lead—heavy metal exposure reduces SCFA-producer abundance
• dysbiosis—depletion is a convergent marker across diverse inflammatory and metabolic diseases
• Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs)—key butyrate producer via lactate relay