Figure 2.

Microbiota diversity between equol producers and equol nonproducers. Fecal samples from 17 women, (n = 7 equol producers and n = 10 equol non-producers) underwent 16S rRNA sequencing and were analyzed for microbial diversity. No significant differences in beta-diversity were found (Panel A). Although alpha-diversity showed non-significant differences (Panel B), the gut microbiota from equol non-producers has a slightly higher diversity. Taxonomy bar plots between non-producers and equol producers showed a similar composition with slightly higher dominance of Akkermansia among the equol producers, and a higher dominance in Bacteroides in the equol non-producers (Panel C).