Characteristics of Gut Microbiota and Fecal Metabolites in Patients with Colorectal Cancer-Associated Iron Deficiency Anemia

Patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) have a high prevalence of iron deficiency anemia (IDA), and the gut microbiota is closely related to iron metabolism. We performed metagenomic and metabolomic analyses of stool samples from 558 eligible samples, including IDA CRC patients (IDA, n = 69), non-anemia CRC patients (Non-Anemia, n = 245), and healthy controls (CTRL, n = 244), to explore the dynamically altered gut microbes and their metabolites. Compared with the CTRL group, fecal bacteria in both the IDA group and the Non-Anemia group showed a decrease in alpha diversity and changes in microbial communities.