Physical Inaccessibility of a Resistant Starch Shifts Mouse Gut Microbiota to Butyrogenic Firmicutes

The mechanisms in the gut microbiota regulation and type 2 diabetes therapeutic activity of resistant starches

Resistant starch (RS) can potentially prevent type 2 diabetes through the modulation of intestinal microbiota and microbial metabolites. Currently, it has been wildly noted that altering the intestinal microbial composition and short-chain fatty acids levels can achieve therapeutic effects, although the specific mechanisms were rarely elucidated. This review systematically explores the structural characteristics of different RS, analyzes the cross-feeding mechanism utilized by intestinal microbiota, and outlines the pathways and targets of butyrate, a primary microbial metabolite, for treating diabetes. Different RS types may have a unique impact on microbiota composition and their cross-feeding, thus exploring regulatory mechanisms of RS on diabetes through intestinal flora interaction and their metabolites could pave the way for more effective treatment outcomes for host health. Furthermore, by understanding the mechanisms of strain-level cross-feeding and metabolites of RS, precise dietary supplementation methods targeted at intestinal composition and metabolites can be achieved to improve T2DM.

Resistant starch and tannic acid synergistically ameliorated dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis, particularly in the distal colon

We previously confirmed that tannic acid could delay the metabolism of resistant starch in vitro, which suggested that tannic acid might deliver resistant starch to the distal colon in vivo. Accordingly, co-supplementation of resistant starch and tannic acid might be beneficial for keeping the distal colon healthy. Thus, this study compared the effects of resistant starch, tannic acid and their mixtures on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis in mice. It was found that the mixtures had a more profound effect on ameliorating DSS-induced ulcerative colitis than resistant starch or tannic acid. In particular, the mixtures reversed the histology damage of the distal colon induced by DSS, while resistant starch or tannic acid alone did not. The mixtures also had a stronger ability to resist oxidative stress and inhibit inflammation in the distal colon. These results suggested that resistant starch and tannic acid synergistically alleviated DSS-induced ulcerative colitis, particularly in the distal colon. On the other hand, DSS decreased the production of short-chain fatty acids and induced significant microbial disorder, while the administration of resistant starch, tannic acid and their mixtures reversed the above shifts caused by DSS. In particular, the mixtures exhibited stronger prebiotic activity, as indicated by the microbial composition and production of short-chain fatty acids. Therefore, it was inferred that tannic acid delivered resistant starch to the distal colon of mice, and thus the mixtures had stronger prebiotic activity. As a result, the mixtures effectively alleviated ulcerative colitis in the whole colon.

Amelioration of walnut, peony seed and camellia seed oils against D-galactose-induced cognitive impairment in mice by regulating gut microbiota

Diet adjustment will affect the health of gut microbiota, which in turn influences the development and function of the organism's brain through the gut-brain axis. Walnut oil (WO), peony seed oil (PSO) and camellia seed oil (CSO), as typical representatives of woody plant oils, have been shown to have the potential to improve cognitive impairment in mice, but the function mechanisms are not clear. In this study, we comparatively investigated the neuroprotective effects of these three oils on D-galactose (D-gal)-induced cognitive impairment in mice, and found that the ameliorative effect of WO was more prominent. During the behavioral experiments, supplementation with all three oils would improve spatial learning and memory functions in D-gal mice, with a significant reduction in the error times (p < 0.001) and a significant increase in step-down latency (p < 0.001); walnut oil supplementation also significantly increased the number of hidden platform traversals, the target quadrant spent times and percentage of distance (p < 0.05). The results of biomarker analysis showed that WO, in addition to significantly inhibiting D-gal-induced oxidative stress and neuroinflammation as did PSO, significantly increased the ACh content in the mouse brain (p < 0.05) and modulated neurotransmitter levels. The results of further microbiota diversity sequencing experiments also confirmed that dietary supplementation with all three oils affected the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota in mice. Among them, WO significantly restored the balance of the mouse gut microbiota by increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria (Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes) and decreasing the abundance of harmful bacteria (Clostridium, Shigella, Serratia), which was consistent with the results of behavioral experiments and biomarker analyses. Based on the analysis of the fatty acid composition of the three oils and changes in the gut microbiota, it is hypothesized that there is a correlation between the fatty acid composition of the dietary supplement oils and neuroprotective effects. The superiority of WO over PSO and CSO in improving cognitive impairment is mainly attributed to its balanced composition of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.

The impact of microplastics polystyrene on the microscopic structure of mouse intestine, tight junction genes and gut microbiota

Microplastics, which are tiny plastic particles less than 5 mm in diameter, are widely present in the environment, have become a serious threat to aquatic life and human health, potentially causing ecosystem disorders and health problems. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of microplastics, specifically microplastics-polystyrene (MPs-PS), on the structural integrity, gene expression related to tight junctions, and gut microbiota in mice. A total of 24 Kunming mice aged 30 days were randomly assigned into four groups: control male (CM), control female (CF), PS-exposed male (PSM), and PS-exposed female (PSF)(n = 6). There were significant differences in villus height, width, intestinal surface area, and villus height to crypt depth ratio (V/C) between the PS group and the control group(C) (p <0.05). Gene expression analysis demonstrated the downregulation of Claudin-1, Claudin-2, Claudin-15, and Occludin, in both duodenum and jejunum of the PS group (p < 0.05). Analysis of microbial species using 16S rRNA sequencing indicated decreased diversity in the PSF group, as well as reduced diversity in the PSM group at various taxonomic levels. Beta diversity analysis showed a significant difference in gut microbiota distribution between the PS-exposed and C groups (R2 = 0.113, p<0.01), with this difference being more pronounced among females exposed to MPs-PS. KEGG analysis revealed enrichment of differential microbiota mainly involved in seven signaling pathways, such as nucleotide metabolism(p<0.05). The relative abundance ratio of transcriptional pathways was significantly increased for the PSF group (p<0.01), while excretory system pathways were for PSM group(p<0.05). Overall findings suggest that MPs-PS exhibit a notable sex-dependent impact on mouse gut microbiota, with a stronger effect observed among females; reduced expression of tight junction genes may be associated with dysbiosis, particularly elevated levels of Prevotellaceae.

Influence of Varied Environment Conditions on the Gut Microbiota of Yaks

Despite the crucial role of the gut microbiota in different physiological processes occurring in the animal body, reports regarding the gut microbiota of animals residing in different environmental conditions like high altitude and different climate settings are limited. The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is renowned for its extreme climatic conditions that provide an ideal environment for exploring the effects of high altitude and temperature on the microbiota of animals. Yaks have unique oxygen delivery systems and genes related to hypoxic response. Damxung, Nyêmo, and Linzhou counties in Tibet have variable altitudes and temperatures that offer distinct settings for studying yak adaptation to elevated terrains. The results of our study suggest that amplicon sequencing of V3-V4 and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) regions yielded 13,683 bacterial and 1912 fungal amplicon sequence variants (ASVs). Alpha and beta diversity indicated distinct microbial structures. Dominant bacterial phyla were Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, and Actinobacteriota. Genera UCG-005, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group were dominant in confined yaks living in Damxung county (DXS) and yaks living in Linzhou county (LZS), whereas UCG-005 prevailed in confined yaks living in Nyêmo county (NMS). The linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis highlighted genus-level differences. Meta-stat analysis revealed significant shifts in bacterial and fungal community composition in yaks at different high altitudes and temperatures. Bacterial taxonomic analysis revealed that two phyla and 32 genera differed significantly (p < 0.05). Fungal taxonomic analysis revealed that three phyla and four genera differed significantly (p < 0.05). Functional predictions indicated altered metabolic functions, especially in the digestive system of yaks living in NMS. This study reveals significant shifts in yak gut microbiota in response to varying environmental factors, such as altitude and temperature, shedding light on previously unexplored aspects of yak physiology in extreme environments.

Diet with optimal glutathione supplement improves growth, nonspecific immunity, intestinal microbiota, and antioxidant ability in Micropterus salmoides

In this study, Micropterus salmoides were fed with dietary glutathione (GSH, 0, 100, 300, and 500 mg/kg) for 56 days to investigate its effects on growth performance, serum nonspecific immunity, liver antioxidant capacity, tissue morphology, and intestinal microbiota. The results showed that the survival rate, weight gain rate, and specific growth rate and condition factor increased, whereas the feed conversion ratio, hepato-somatic index, and viscerosomatic index decreased in the GSH groups. Compared with the control group, the serum total protein content significantly increased, whereas the triglyceride and total cholesterol significantly decreased in the 300-mg/kg dietary GSH group. The activities of lysozyme, alkaline phosphatase, and acid phosphatase were significantly higher in GSH-supplemented groups, peaking at 300-mg/kg GSH. GSH supplementation significantly increased total antioxidant capacity and decreased malondialdehyde content, with the most pronounced effects at 300-mg/kg GSH. Further antioxidant indicators showed that a dietary supplement of 300-mg/kg GSH significantly increased the activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione transferase, endogenous glutathione, glutathione reductase, and catalase. At 300-mg/kg GSH, the liver exhibited improved characteristics with alleviated vacuolation and hepatocyte nuclear shift, and intestine showed enhanced structure with increased villus height and intestinal wall thickness. Additionally, a 300-mg/kg GSH supplementation improved the diversity of intestinal microbiota, increased the abundance of probiotics such as Bacillus, and inhibited the development of pathogenic bacteria such as Plesiomonas. Overall, the results suggest that the effect of GSH addition on improving growth performance, nonspecific immunity, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal microbiota of M. salmoides is best in the 300-mg/kg addition group. Based on second-degree polynomial regression analysis of weight gain, the optimum requirement of dietary GSH in M. salmoides is a 336.84-mg/kg diet.

Dietary sodium butyrate positively modulated intestinal microbial community, but did not promote growth of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

This study investigated the effects of dietary sodium butyrate (NaB) on growth, serum biochemical indices, intestine histology, and gut microbiota of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). A basal diet was formulated and used as the control diet (Con), and five additional diets were prepared by supplementing NaB (50%) in the basal diet at 2.0, 4.0, 8.0, 12.0, and 16.0 g/kg inclusion (NaB-2, NaB-4, NaB-8, NaB-12, and NaB-16 diets). Then, the six diets were fed to triplicate groups of largemouth bass juveniles (2.4 ± 0.1 g) for 8 weeks. NaB supplementation linearly and quadratically affected weight gain (WG) and feed intake (FI) (P < 0.05). The NaB-16 group displayed lower WG (- 6.8%) and FI than the Con group (P < 0.05), while no differences were found in WG and feed conversion ratio between the other NaB groups and Con group (P > 0.05). Serum alkaline phosphatase and lysozyme activities were higher in the NaB groups (P < 0.05), and D-lactate content was lower in the NaB-12 group (P < 0.05) than the control. Intestinal lipase activity in NaB-2, NaB-4 group, and villi width in NaB-8 group were also higher than those in the Con group (P < 0.05). Compared to the Con group, the intestinal abundances of Firmicutes and Mycoplasma were increased and the abundances of Proteobacteria, Achromobacter and Plesiomonas were decreased in NaB-4 and NaB-16 groups (P < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary NaB did not promote the growth of juvenile largemouth bass, but positively modulated the intestinal microbial community.

Subtle structural variations of resistant starch from whole cooked rice significantly impact metabolic outputs of gut microbiota

While cooked rice is widely consumed as a whole food, the specific characteristics and impact of its resistant starch (RS) on gut microbiota are largely unexplored. In this study, three rice varieties with distinct starch molecular structures were used to prepare RS from cooked rice. All three types of RS had a crystalline structure characterized as B + V type, with the V type being the predominant crystalline polymorph. Distinct differences in chain-length distributions were observed among different RSs, with rapidly fermentable starch fractions comprising short amylopectin and long amylose chains, while the degrees of polymerization (DPs) ∼ 10, 37, 65, and 105 fractions comprised the slowly fermentable starch. Jasmine rice RS showed the highest proportion of this slowly fermentable starch fraction, which appeared to be specifically utilized by Megasphaera_elsdenii_DSM_20460 OTU198. The fermentation of Jasmine RS resulted in the highest production of butyrate after 24 h, which was positively correlated with the relative abundance of Megasphaera_elsdenii_DSM_20460 OTU198. These findings collectively indicate that RS in cooked rice with a higher V type crystallinity and DPs ∼ 10, 37, 65, and 105 fractions promote butyrate production and stimulate the growth of butyrate-producing bacteria in the human gut, thereby conferring beneficial effects on gut health.

Resistant Starch from Purple Sweet Potatoes Alleviates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis through Modulating the Homeostasis of the Gut Microbiota

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a complicated inflammatory disease with a continually growing incidence. In this study, resistant starch was obtained from purple sweet potato (PSPRS) by the enzymatic isolation method. Then, the structural properties of PSPRS and its protective function in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis were investigated. The structural characterization results revealed that the crystallinity of PSPRS changed from CA-type to A-type, and the lamellar structure was totally destroyed during enzymatic hydrolysis. Compared to DSS-induced colitis mice, PSPRS administration significantly improved the pathological phenotype and colon inflammation in a dose-dependent manner. ELISA results indicated that DSS-induced colitis mice administered with PSPRS showed higher IL-10 and IgA levels but lower TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels. Meanwhile, high doses (300 mg/kg) of PSPRS significantly increased the production of acetate, propionate, and butyrate. 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing results showed that the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes and the potential probiotic bacteria levels were notably increased in the PSPRS treatment group, such as Lactobacillus, Alloprevotella, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, and Bifidobacterium. Simultaneously, harmful bacteria like Bacteroides, Staphylococcus, and Akkermansia were significantly inhibited by the administration of a high dose of PSPRS (p < 0.05). Therefore, PSPRS has the potential to be a functional food for promoting intestinal health and alleviating UC.

A type 4 resistant potato starch alters the cecal microbiome and gene expression in mice fed a western diet based on NHANES data

Four major types of resistant starch (RS1-4) are present in foods, all of which can alter the microbiome and are fermented in the cecum and colon to produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Type 4 RSs are chemically modified starches, not normally found in foods, but have become a popular food additive as their addition increases fiber content. Multiple studies, in humans and rodents, have explored how different RS4 affect post-prandial glucose metabolism, but fewer studies have examined the effects of RS4 consumption on the microbiome. In addition, many RS studies conducted in rodents use high-fat diets that do not approximate what is typically consumed by humans. To address this, mice were fed a Total Western Diet (TWD), based on National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data that mimics the macro and micronutrient composition of a typical American diet, for six weeks, and then supplemented with 0, 2, 5, or 10% of the RS4, Versafibe 1490™ (VF), a phosphorylated and cross-linked potato starch, for an additional three weeks. The cecal contents were analyzed for SCFA content and microbiota composition. Butyrate production was increased while branched chain SCFA production decreased. The alpha-diversity of the microbiome decreased in mice fed the TWD with 10% VF 1490 added while the beta-diversity plot showed that the 5% and 10% VF groups were distinct from mice fed the TWD. Similarly, the largest changes in relative abundance of various genera were greatest in mice fed the 10% VF diet. To examine the effect of VF consumption on tissue gene expression, cecal and distal colon tissue mRNA abundance were analyzed by RNASeq. Gene expression changes were more prevalent in the cecum than the colon and in mice fed the 10% VF diet, but the number of changes was substantially lower than we previously observed in mice fed the TWD supplemented with native potato starch (RPS). These results provide additional evidence that the structure of the RS is a major factor determining its effects on the microbiome and gene expression in the cecum and colon.

A Comprehensive Review of the Effects of Glycemic Carbohydrates on the Neurocognitive Functions Based on Gut Microenvironment Regulation and Glycemic Fluctuation Control

Improper glycemic carbohydrates (GCs) consumption can be a potential risk factor for metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes, which may lead to cognitive impairment. Although several potential mechanisms have been studied, the biological relationship between carbohydrate consumption and neurocognitive impairment is still uncertain. In this review, the main effects and mechanisms of GCs' digestive characteristics on cognitive functions are comprehensively elucidated. Additionally, healthier carbohydrate selection, a reliable research model, and future directions are discussed. Individuals in their early and late lives and patients with metabolic diseases are highly susceptible to dietary-induced cognitive impairment. It is well known that gut function is closely related to dietary patterns. Unhealthy carbohydrate diet-induced gut microenvironment disorders negatively impact cognitive functions through the gut-brain axis. Moreover, severe glycemic fluctuations, due to rapidly digestible carbohydrate consumption or metabolic diseases, can impair neurocognitive functions by disrupting glucose metabolism, dysregulating calcium homeostasis, oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and accumulating advanced glycation end products. Unstable glycemic status can lead to more severe neurological impairment than persistent hyperglycemia. Slow-digested or resistant carbohydrates might contribute to better neurocognitive functions due to stable glycemic response and healthier gut functions than fully gelatinized starch and nutritive sugars.

Tuning Expectations to Reality: Don't Expect Increased Gut Microbiota Diversity with Dietary Fiber

Dietary approaches, particularly those including fiber supplementation, can be used to promote health benefits by shaping gut microbial communities. Whereas community diversity measures, such as richness and evenness, are often used in microbial ecology to make sense of these complex and vast microbial ecosystems, it is less clear how these concepts apply when dietary fiber supplementation is given. In this perspective, we summarize and demonstrate how factors including experimental approach, number of bacteria sharing a dietary fiber, and initial relative abundances of bacteria that use a fiber can significantly affect diversity outcomes in fiber fermentation studies. We also show that a reduction in alpha diversity is possible, and perhaps expected, for most approaches that use fermentable fibers to beneficially shape the gut microbial community while still achieving health-related improvements.

The Role of Carbohydrate Intake on the Gut Microbiome: A Weight of Evidence Systematic Review

(1) Background: Carbohydrates are the most important source of nutritional energy for the human body. Carbohydrate digestion, metabolism, and their role in the gut microbiota modulation are the focus of multiple studies. The objective of this weight of evidence systematic review is to investigate the potential relationship between ingested carbohydrates and the gut microbiota composition at different taxonomic levels. (2) Methods: Weight of evidence and information value techniques were used to evaluate the relationship between dietary carbohydrates and the relative abundance of different bacterial taxa in the gut microbiota. (3) Results: The obtained results show that the types of carbohydrates that have a high information value are: soluble fiber with Bacteroides increase, insoluble fiber with Bacteroides and Actinobacteria increase, and Firmicutes decrease. Oligosaccharides with Lactobacillus increase and Enterococcus decrease. Gelatinized starches with Prevotella increase. Starches and resistant starches with Blautia decrease and Firmicutes increase. (4) Conclusions: This work provides, for the first time, an integrative review of the subject by using statistical techniques that have not been previously employed in microbiota reviews.

Dendrobium officinale aqueous extract influences the immune response following vaccination against SARS-CoV-2

BACKGROUND

Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, it is often less protective and does not significantly increase antibody levels, especially in individuals with impaired immune systems. Nevertheless, the immunocompetence can be enhanced using a natural immunomodulator, such as Dendrobium officinale aqueous extract (DoAE).

METHODS

To determine whether DoAE promotes antibody production, we treated healthy volunteers with DoAE during COVID-19 vaccination. Meanwhile, the control volunteers were given a placebo (cornstarch) during the vaccination. Antibody levels were measured at three-week intervals in the DoAE and control groups.

RESULTS

DoAE enhanced immunity and preserved immune cell homeostasis. However, the neutralizing antibody (nAb) levels in the DoAE group were lower than those in the control group. Analysis of the gut microbiota revealed that the abundance of anti-inflammatory flora was increased, while the pro-inflammatory flora was reduced in the DoAE group.

CONCLUSION

DoAE has immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, DoAE has the potential for COVID-19 prophylaxis, treatment, and recovery from the adverse effects of COVID-19. However, its anti-inflammatory activity affects the production of nAbs. Thus, DoAE may not be recommended for consumption during COVID-19 vaccination.

The Interplay of Dietary Fibers and Intestinal Microbiota Affects Type 2 Diabetes by Generating Short-Chain Fatty Acids

Foods contain dietary fibers which can be classified into soluble and insoluble forms. The nutritional composition of fast foods is considered unhealthy because it negatively affects the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Dietary fiber is resistant to digestive enzymes in the gut, which modulates the anaerobic intestinal microbiota (AIM) and fabricates SCFAs. Acetate, butyrate, and propionate are dominant in the gut and are generated via Wood-Ljungdahl and acrylate pathways. In pancreatic dysfunction, the release of insulin/glucagon is impaired, leading to hyperglycemia. SCFAs enhance insulin sensitivity or secretion, beta-cell function, leptin release, mitochondrial function, and intestinal gluconeogenesis in human organs, which positively affects type 2 diabetes (T2D). Research models have shown that SCFAs either enhance the release of peptide YY (PYY) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) from L-cells (entero-endocrine), or promotes the release of leptin hormone in adipose tissues through G-protein receptors GPR-41 and GPR-43. Dietary fiber is a component that influences the production of SCFAs by AIM, which may have beneficial effects on T2D. This review focuses on the effectiveness of dietary fiber in producing SCFAs in the colon by the AIM as well as the health-promoting effects on T2D.

Guar gum improves growth performance, intestinal microbiota homeostasis, and hepatic lipid metabolism in juvenile largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) fed high-fat diets

The study aimed to investigate the effects of guar gum on the growth performance, gut microbiota composition, and hepatic lipid metabolism of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) fed high-fat diets. Experimental fish were fed a normal-fat diet (Control), high-fat diet (HF), or HF diets supplemented with 0.3 %, 1 %, and 3 % guar gum (GG0.3, GG1, and GG3, respectively) for eight weeks. The results showed that HF significantly decreased fish growth performance, increased hepatic lipid accumulation, upregulated the expression of sterol regulatory element binding proteins 1 (SREBP1), and downregulated the expression of liver X receptor alpha (LXRα), cytochrome P450 7A1 (CYP7A1), and CYP8B1, compared to Control. However, these problems of high-fat diets were significantly alleviated by GG 0.3. The intestinal microbial communities of the GG0.3 and Control were similar but distinctly different from that of the HF group. Compared to HF, GG0.3 significantly increased the relative abundances of Firmicutes and Lactococcus and decreased the relative abundance of Tenericutes, Mesomycoplasma, and Phenylobacterium. In addition, the GG0.3 and GG1 treatments significantly enhanced the bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity in the digesta compared to HF. In conclusion, 0.3 % guar gum supplementation can improve growth performance, intestinal health, and hepatic lipid metabolism in fish fed high-fat diets.

An open label, non-randomized study assessing a prebiotic fiber intervention in a small cohort of Parkinson's disease participants

A pro-inflammatory intestinal microbiome is characteristic of Parkinson's disease (PD). Prebiotic fibers change the microbiome and this study sought to understand the utility of prebiotic fibers for use in PD patients. The first experiments demonstrate that fermentation of PD patient stool with prebiotic fibers increased the production of beneficial metabolites (short chain fatty acids, SCFA) and changed the microbiota demonstrating the capacity of PD microbiota to respond favorably to prebiotics. Subsequently, an open-label, non-randomized study was conducted in newly diagnosed, non-medicated (n = 10) and treated PD participants (n = 10) wherein the impact of 10 days of prebiotic intervention was evaluated. Outcomes demonstrate that the prebiotic intervention was well tolerated (primary outcome) and safe (secondary outcome) in PD participants and was associated with beneficial biological changes in the microbiota, SCFA, inflammation, and neurofilament light chain. Exploratory analyses indicate effects on clinically relevant outcomes. This proof-of-concept study offers the scientific rationale for placebo-controlled trials using prebiotic fibers in PD patients. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04512599.

Dual Regulation of Sulfonated Lignin to Prevent and Treat Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

With the rapid increase of diabetes cases in the world, there is an increasing demand for slowing down and managing diabetes and its effects. It is considered that a viable prophylactic treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is to reduce carbohydrate digestibility by controlling the activities of α-amylase and α-glucosidase to control postprandial hyperglycemia and promote the growth of intestinal beneficial bacteria. In this work, the effects of sulfonated lignin with different sulfonation degrees (0.8 mmol/g, SL₁; 2.9 mmol/g, SL₂) on the inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase and the proliferation of intestinal beneficial bacteria in vitro were investigated. The results showed that both SL₁ and SL₂ can inhibit the activity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. The inhibition capacity (IC₅₀, 32.35 μg/mL) of SL₂ with a low concentration (0-0.5 mg/mL) to α-amylase was close to that of acarbose to α-amylase (IC₅₀, 27.33 μg/mL). Compared with the control groups, the bacterial cell concentrations of Bifidobacteria adolescentis and Lactobacillus acidophilus cultured with SL₁ and SL₂ increased in varying degrees (8-36%), and the produced short-chain fatty acids were about 1.2 times higher. This work demonstrates the prospect of sulfonated lignin as a prebiotic for the prevention and treatment of T2DM, which provides new insights for opening up a brand new field of lignin.

Matrix-entrapped fibers create ecological niches for gut bacterial growth

Insoluble plant cell walls are a main source of dietary fiber. Both chemical and physical fiber structures create distinct niches for gut bacterial utilization. Here, we have taken key fermentable solubilized polysaccharides of plant cell walls and fabricated them back into cell wall-like film forms to understand how fiber physical structure directs gut bacterial fermentation outcomes. Solubilized corn bran arabinoxylan (Cax), extracted to retain some ferulate residues, was covalently linked using laccase to form an insoluble cell wall-like film (Cax-F) that was further embedded with pectin (CaxP-F). In vitro fecal fermentation using gut microbiota from three donors was performed on the films and soluble fibers. Depending on the donor, CaxP-F led to higher relative abundance of recognized beneficial bacteria and/or butyrate producers-Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, Eubacterium halii, unassigned Lachnospiraceae, Blautia, and Anaerostipes-than free pectin and Cax, and Cax-F. Thus, physical form and location of fibers within cell walls form niches for some health-related gut bacteria. This work brings a new understanding of the importance of insoluble cell wall-associated fibers and shows that targeted fiber materials can be fabricated to support important gut microbiota taxa and metabolites of health significance.

Raw potato starch alters the microbiome, colon and cecal gene expression, and resistance to Citrobacter rodentium infection in mice fed a Western diet

Resistant starches (RS) are fermented in the cecum and colon to produce short-chain fatty acids and other microbial metabolites that can alter host physiology and the composition of the microbiome. We previously showed that mice fed a Total Western Diet (TWD) based on NHANES data that mimics the composition of a typical American diet, containing resistant potato starch (RPS), produced concentration dependent changes to the cecal short-chain fatty acids, the microbiome composition as well as gene expression changes in the cecum and colon that were most prevalent in mice fed the 10% RPS diet. We were then interested in whether feeding TWD/RPS would alter the resistance to bacterial-induced colitis caused by Citrobacter rodentium (Cr), a mouse pathogen that shares 66.7% of encoded genes with Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. Mice were fed the TWD for 6 weeks followed by a 3-weeks on the RPS diets before infecting with Cr. Fecal Cr excretion was monitored over time and fecal samples were collected for 16S sequencing. Mice were euthanized on day 12 post-infection and cecal contents collected for 16S sequencing. Cecum and colon tissues were obtained for gene expression analysis, histology and to determine the level of mucosa-associated Cr. Feeding RPS increased the percentage of mice productively infected by Cr and fecal Cr excretion on day 4 post-infection. Mice fed the TWD/10% RPS diet also had greater colonization of colonic tissue at day 12 post-infection and colonic pathology. Both diet and infection altered the fecal and cecal microbiome composition with increased levels of RPS resulting in decreased α-diversity that was partially reversed by Cr infection. RNASeq analysis identified several mechanistic pathways that could be associated with the increased colonization of Cr-infected mice fed 10% RPS. In the distal colon we found a decrease in enrichment for genes associated with T cells, B cells, genes associated with the synthesis of DHA-derived SPMs and VA metabolism/retinoic acid signaling. We also found an increase in the expression of the potentially immunosuppressive gene, Ido1. These results suggest that high-level consumption of RPS in the context of a typical American diet, may alter susceptibility to gastrointestinal bacterial infections.

Butyrate-producing colonic clostridia: picky glycan utilization specialists

Butyrate-producing human gut microbiota members are recognized for their strong association with a healthy immune-homeostasis and protection from inflammatory disorders and colorectal cancer. These effects are attributed to butyrate, the terminal electron sink of glycan fermentation by prevalent and abundant colonic Firmicutes from the Lachnospiraceae and Oscillospiraceae families. Remarkably, our insight into the glycan utilization mechanisms and preferences of butyrogenic Firmicutes remains very limited as compared with other gut symbionts, especially from the Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, and Lactobacillus genera. Here, we summarize recent findings on the strategies that colonic butyrate producers have evolved to harvest energy from major dietary fibres, especially plant structural and storage glycans, such as resistant starch, xylans, and mannans. Besides dietary fibre, we also present the unexpected discovery of a conserved protein apparatus that confers the growth of butyrate producers on human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), which are unique to mother’s milk. The dual dietary fibre/HMO utilization machinery attests the adaptation of this group to both the infant and adult guts. These finding are discussed in relation to the early colonization of butyrogenic bacteria and the maturation of the microbiota during the transition from mother’s milk to solid food. To date, the described butyrogenic Firmicutes are glycan utilization specialists that target only a few glycans in a highly competitive manner relying on co-regulated glycan utilization loci. We describe the common pillars of this machinery, highlighting butyrate producers as a source for discovery of biochemically and structurally novel carbohydrate active enzymes.

2'-Fucosyllactose Promotes the Production of Short-Chain Fatty Acids and Improves Immune Function in Human-Microbiota-Associated Mice by Regulating Gut Microbiota

As a natural prebiotic in human milk, 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL) is actively used in infant formula (IF). However, the 2'-FL influence on the improvement of gut microbiota and the regulation of the immune function remains unknown. In this study, human microbiota-associated (HMA) mice were used to demonstrate that feeding 2'-FL-containing IF was comparable to human milk at levels of immune cytokines (IL-2, IL-9, IL-10, and sIgA) and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs, i.e., acetate and propionate). In addition, 2'-FL increased the abundance of Blautia and Olsenella and improved the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 levels. The abundance of Blautia and Olsenella positively correlated with the IL-10 levels. 2'-FL also decreased the abundance of Enterorhabdus and Lachnospiraceae_UCG-006 and elevated SCFA levels, showing a negative correlation between these genera and SCFAs. Our findings revealed that feeding 2'-FL-containing IF drives the levels of cytokines and SCFAs toward human milk levels by shaping the beneficial gut microbiota profile.

Insoluble dietary fibers: structure, metabolism, interactions with human microbiome, and role in gut homeostasis

Consumption of food rich in dietary fibers (DFs) has been long recognized to exert an overall beneficial effect on human health. This review aims to provide a holistic overview on how IDFs impact human gut health either directly, or through modulation of the gut microbiome. Several databases were searched for collecting papers such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus and Reaxys from 2000 till 2022. Firstly, an overview of the chemical structure of the various IDFs and the pathways employed by gut microbiota for their degradation is provided. The impact of IDFs on microbial community structure and pathogens colonization inside the human gut was discussed. Finally, the impact of IDFs on gut homeostasis and systemic effects at the cellular level, as well as the overall immunological benefits of IDFs consumption were analyzed. IDFs viz., cellulose, hemicellulose, resistant starch, and lignin found enriched in food are discussed for these effects. IDFs were found to induce gut immunity, improve intestinal integrity and mucosal proliferation, and favor adhesion of probiotics and hence improve human health. Also, IDFs were concluded to improve the bioavailability of plant polyphenols and improve their health-related functional roles. Ultimately, dietary fibers processing by modification shows potential to enhance fibers-based functional food production, in addition to increase the economic value and usage of food-rich fibers and their by-products.

Probiotics synergized with conventional regimen in managing Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is mainly managed by pharmacological therapy (e.g., Benserazide and dopamine agonists). However, prolonged use of these drugs would gradually diminish their dopaminergic effect. Gut dysbiosis was observed in some patients with PD, suggesting close association between the gut microbiome and PD. Probiotics modulate the host's gut microbiota beneficially. A 3-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted to investigate the beneficial effect of probiotic co-administration in patients with PD. Eighty-two PD patients were recruited and randomly divided into probiotic [n = 48; Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Probio-M8 (Probio-M8), Benserazide, dopamine agonists] and placebo (n = 34; placebo, Benserazide, dopamine agonists) groups. Finally, 45 and 29 patients from Probio-M8 and placebo groups provided complete fecal and serum samples for further omics analysis, respectively. The results showed that Probio-M8 co-administration conferred added benefits by improving sleep quality, alleviating anxiety, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Metagenomic analysis showed that, after the intervention, there were significantly more species-level genome bins (SGBs) of Bifidobacterium animalis, Ruminococcaceae, and Lachnospira, while less Lactobacillus fermentum and Klebsiella oxytoca in Probio-M8 group (P < 0.05). Interestingly, Lactobacillus fermentum correlated positively with the scores of UPDRS-III, HAMA, HAMD-17, and negatively with MMSE. Klebsiella oxytoca correlated negatively with feces hardness. Moreover, co-administering Probio-M8 increased SGBs involved in tryptophan degradation, gamma-aminobutyric acid, short-chain fatty acids, and secondary bile acid biosynthesis, as well as serum acetic acid and dopamine levels (P < 0.05). Taken together, Probio-M8 synergized with the conventional regimen and strengthened the clinical efficacy in managing PD, accompanied by modifications of the host's gut microbiome, gut microbial metabolic potential, and serum metabolites.

The Impact of Probiotic Bacillus subtilis on Injurious Behavior in Laying Hens

Simple Summary

Injurious behavior prevention is a critical issue in the poultry industry due to increasing social stress, leading to negative effects on bird production and survivability, consequently enhancing gut microbiota dysbiosis and neuroinflammation via the microbiota–gut–brain axis. Probiotics have been used as potential therapeutic psychobiotics to treat or improve neuropsychiatric disorders or symptoms by boosting cognitive and behavioral processes and reducing stress reactions in humans and various experimental animals. The current data will first report that probiotic Bacillus subtilis reduces stress-induced injurious behavior in laying hens via regulating microbiota–gut–brain function with the potential to be an alternative to beak trimming during poultry egg production.

Abstract

Intestinal microbiota functions such as an endocrine organ to regulate host physiological homeostasis and behavioral exhibition in stress responses via regulating the gut–brain axis in humans and other mammals. In humans, stress-induced dysbiosis of the gut microbiota leads to intestinal permeability, subsequently affecting the clinical course of neuropsychiatric disorders, increasing the frequency of aggression and related violent behaviors. Probiotics, as direct-fed microorganism, have been used as dietary supplements or functional foods to target gut microbiota (microbiome) for the prevention or therapeutic treatment of mental diseases including social stress-induced psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, impulsivity, and schizophrenia. Similar function of the probiotics may present in laying hens due to the intestinal microbiota having a similar function between avian and mammals. In laying hens, some management practices such as hens reared in conventional cages or at a high stocking density may cause stress, leading to injurious behaviors such as aggressive pecking, severe feather pecking, and cannibalism, which is a critical issue facing the poultry industry due to negative effects on hen health and welfare with devastating economic consequences. We discuss the current development of using probiotic Bacillus subtilis to prevent or reduce injurious behavior in laying hens.

Resistant Potato Starch Alters the Cecal Microbiome and Gene Expression in Mice Fed a Western Diet Based on NHANES Data

Several studies indicate that the four major types of resistant starch (RS1-4) are fermented in the cecum and colon to produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and can alter the microbiome and host physiology. However, nearly all these studies were conducted in rodents fed with a diet that does not approximate what is typically consumed by humans. To address this, mice were fed a Total Western Diet (TWD) based on National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data that mimics the macro and micronutrient composition of a typical American diet for 6 weeks and then supplemented with 0, 2, 5, or 10% of the RS2, resistant potato starch (RPS), for an additional 3 weeks. The cecal microbiome was analyzed by 16S sequencing. The alpha-diversity of the microbiome decreased with increasing consumption of RPS while a beta-diversity plot showed four discreet groupings based on the RPS level in the diet. The relative abundance of various genera was altered by feeding increasing levels of RPS. In particular, the genus Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group was markedly increased. Cecal, proximal, and distal colon tissue mRNA abundance was analyzed by RNASeq. The cecal mRNA abundance principal component analysis showed clear segregation of the four dietary groups whose separation decreased in the proximal and distal colon. Differential expression of the genes was highest in the cecum, but substantially decreased in the proximal colon (PC) and distal colon (DC). Most differentially expressed genes were unique to each tissue with little overlap in between. The pattern of the observed gene expression suggests that RPS, likely through metabolic changes secondary to differences in microbial composition, appears to prime the host to respond to a range of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites. In summary, consumption of dietary RPS led to significant changes to the microbiome and gene expression in the cecum and to a lesser extent in the proximal and distal colon.

New definition of resistant starch types from the gut microbiota perspectives - a review

Current definition of resistant starch (RS) types is largely based on their interactions with digestive enzymes from human upper gastrointestinal tract. However, this is frequently inadequate to reflect their effects on the gut microbiota, which is an important mechanism for RS to fulfill its function to improve human health. Distinct shifts of gut microbiota compositions and alterations of fermented metabolites could be resulted by the consumption of RS from the same type. This review summarized these defects from the current definitions of RS types, while more importantly proposed pioneering concepts for new definitions of RS types from the gut microbiota perspectives. New RS types considered the aspects of RS fermentation rate, fermentation end products, specificity toward gut microbiota and shifts of gut microbiota caused by the consumption of RS. These definitions were depending on the known outcomes from RS-gut microbiota interactions. The application of new RS types in understanding the complex RS-gut microbiota interactions and promoting human health should be focused in the future.

Dietary sodium butyrate supplementation attenuates intestinal inflammatory response and improves gut microbiota composition in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) fed with a high soybean meal diet

The study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary sodium butyrate (NaBT) supplementation on the gut health of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) fed with a high soybean meal diet. Three isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets were formulated: a high fishmeal group (Control); a high soybean meal group (SBM), in which the 30% fishmeal protein in the Control diet was replaced by soy protein; and an NaBT group, in which 0.2% NaBT was added to the SBM diet. Each diet was fed to triplicate tanks (20 fish in each tank). After 8 weeks of feeding trial, the distal intestine and intestinal digesta of the fish in each treatment were sampled. The results showed that fishmeal replacement and NaBT supplementation did not affect fish growth performance. Dietary 0.2% NaBT supplementation improved intestinal morphology, increasing the villus width and villus height and reducing the width of lamina propria. The distal intestine of fish in the control and NaBT groups demonstrated lower activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and a lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content, compared with the fish in the SBM group. Moreover, the addition of 0.2% NaBT in the feed significantly decreased the expression of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) compared to the SBM diet. PCoA and UPGMA analyses based on weighted UniFrac distances demonstrated that intestinal microbial communities in the NaBT group were closer to those in the control group than to those in the SBM group. In addition, dietary 0.2% NaBT supplementation significantly increased the abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes and decreased the abundance of Tenericutes at the phylum level. Furthermore, the abundance of Bacteroides, Lachnospiraceae_unclassified, and Lachnospiraceae_uncultured was significantly increased, while that of Mycoplasma was significantly decreased in fish intestine at NaBT group at the genus level. In conclusion, dietary NaBT supplementation had beneficial roles in protecting the gut health of largemouth bass from the impairments caused by soybean meal.

Possible regulation of liver glycogen structure through the gut-liver axis by resistant starch: a review

Liver glycogen α particles in diabetic patients are fragile relative to those in healthy individuals, and restoring these fragile glycogen particles to a normal state shows potential to contribute to the remission of diabetes. Resistant starch (RS) is beneficial for diabetes management through its interactions with the gut microbiota. However, its effects on glycogen fragility are not fully understood. This review aims to summarize the recent understanding of the interactions between RS and the human gut microbiota and the possible connections to liver glycogen biosynthesis to elucidate its role in the development of glycogen fragility. RS might regulate glycogen fragility in diabetes by modulating the postprandial glycemic response and glycogen biosynthesis pathways. Before RS can be applied to repair fragile glycogen, more work should be done to better understand in vivo RS structures and identify the factor binding glycogen β particles together. This review contains important information on the connections between glycogen fragility and RS-gut microbiota interactions, which could help to better understand the health benefits of RS consumption.

Starch Microspheres Entrapped with Chitosan Delay In Vitro Fecal Fermentation and Regulate Human Gut Microbiota Composition

A slow dietary fiber fermentation rate is desirable to obtain a steady metabolite release and even distribution throughout the entire colon, ensuring to meet the energy needs in the distal colon. In this study, we prepared starch-entrapped microspheres with a variable chitosan-to-starch ratio by means of electrospraying and investigated the fermentability by human fecal microbiota in an in vitro batch system. Starch encapsulation reduced microbial gas production and the concentration of short-chain fatty acids. Butyrate production, in particular, gradually decreased with increasing chitosan proportions. Moreover, the starch and chitosan composites induced a synergistic effect on the gut microbiota composition. Roseburia, Lachnospiraceae, and Clostridiales were promoted by all of the microspheres, and the abundance of the aforementioned health-promoting taxa reached a maximum in chitosan/starch microspheres with a 1:6 (w/w) ratio. Our findings highlight the possible benefits of rationally designing functional foods targeting functional and taxonomic gut microbiota modulation.

Application of first-order kinetics modeling to reveal the nature of starch digestion characteristics

Mathematical modeling of in vitro starch digestograms is essential to understand starch structure-digestibility relationships as it covers all detailed information of the starch digestograms with only a few kinetics-based parameters. However, many assumptions exist for these mathematical models, which are frequently overlooked by researchers and lead to inappropriate or even wrong interpretations of the fitted parameters. This review presents a critical evaluation of four mostly applied empirical first-order kinetics models including single first-order kinetics (SK), logarithm of slope (LOS) transformed kinetics, parallel first-order kinetics (PK) and the combination of parallel and sequential (CPS) kinetics models. For homogeneous food systems, the SK model is perfectly suitable, whereas the LOS, PK and CPS models were suitably developed for food systems containing multiple digestible fractions. For the digestion of starch containing multiple digestible fractions, the LOS model assumed a sequential digestion pattern, whereas the PK model assumed a parallel pattern. In the current review, there is also emphasis on the recently developed CPS model, which is able to differentiate the sequential and parallel digestion patterns for different starch digestible fractions existing in food systems. Understanding these assumptions enables a better selection of an appropriate mathematical model for improving the understanding of in vitro starch digestion characteristics. This review meets the growing interest of the food industry in terms of developing a new generation of foods with slower starch digestibility.

Synergistic effect of lotus seed resistant starch and short-chain fatty acids on mice fecal microbiota in vitro

This study aimed to investigate the synergistic effect of lotus seed resistant starch (LRS) and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) on mice fecal bacterial flora and the contents of SCFAs in vitro. Following 24 h of fermentation, 16S rRNA analysis revealed several differences in the fecal microbiota community structure among primal bacteria (PB), LRS and different SCFAs combined with LRS groups (SCFAs-LRS). The LRS group increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Allobaculum, Clostridium, Bacteroides and Prevotella. Among the SCFAs-LRS group, AA-LRS increased the relative abundance of Prevotella, and Bacillus. PA-LRS increased abundance of Sphingomonas and the BA-LRS group significantly increased the relative abundance of Rhizobiales, Brucellaceae and Ochrobactrum. Meanwhile, propionic acid and BA productions significantly increased in the BA-LRS group. The SCFAs-LRS group elicited a beneficial effect on the fecal microbiota by increasing production of SCFAs. We highlight the fact that the combination of LRS and SCFA can increase the contents of SCFAs produced by mice fecal microbiota. In short, the combination of LRS and SCFA can influence intestinal flora by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria and can serve as new prebiotics for promoting health and disease management.

The impact of gut microbiota metabolites on cellular bioenergetics and cardiometabolic health

Recent research demonstrates a reciprocal relationship between gut microbiota-derived metabolites and the host in controlling the energy homeostasis in mammals. On the one hand, to thrive, gut bacteria exploit nutrients digested by the host. On the other hand, the host utilizes numerous products of gut bacteria metabolism as a substrate for ATP production in the colon. Finally, bacterial metabolites seep from the gut into the bloodstream and interfere with the host’s cellular bioenergetics machinery. Notably, there is an association between alterations in microbiota composition and the development of metabolic diseases and their cardiovascular complications. Some metabolites, like short-chain fatty acids and trimethylamine, are considered markers of cardiometabolic health. Others, like hydrogen sulfide and nitrite, demonstrate antihypertensive properties. Scientific databases were searched for pre-clinical and clinical studies to summarize current knowledge on the role of gut microbiota metabolites in the regulation of mammalian bioenergetics and discuss their potential involvement in the development of cardiometabolic disorders. Overall, the available data demonstrates that gut bacteria products affect physiological and pathological processes controlling energy and vascular homeostasis. Thus, the modulation of microbiota-derived metabolites may represent a new approach for treating obesity, hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

Gut microbiota as an emerging therapeutic avenue for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the leading causes of death related to liver diseases worldwide. Despite this, there is no specific treatment that is approved for the disease till now, which could be due to a poor understanding of the pathophysiology of this disease. In the past few decades, several scientists have speculated the root cause of NAFLD to be dysbalance in the gut microbiome resulting in a susceptibility totheinflammatory cascade in the liver. Herein, we hypothesize to fabricate a novel formulation containing prebiotic with probiotics, which, thereby would help in maintaining the gut homeostasis, and used for the treatment of NAFLD. The proposed novel formulation would contain a Bifidobacteriumsp. with Faecalibacteriumprausnitzii in the presence of a dietary fibre having hepatoprotective activity. These two strains of probiotics would help in increasing the concentration of butyrate in the gut, which in turn would inhibit intestinal inflammation and maintain gut integrity. The dietary fibre would serve a dual mechanism; firstly they would act as a prebiotic, which helps in the proliferation of administered probiotics and secondly, would protect the liver via own hepatoprotective action. This combinatorial approach would pave a new therapeutic avenue for the treatment of NAFLD.

Prebiotic potential of mushroom d-glucans: implications of physicochemical properties and structural features

Mushroom d-glucans are recognized as dietary fibers and as biologically active natural polysaccharides, with the advantages of being quite inexpensive for production, tolerable, and having a range of possible structures and physicochemical properties. The prebiotic potential of mushroom d-glucans has been explored in recent years, but the relationship between their various structural features and activity is poorly understood. This review focuses on comprehensively evaluating the prebiotic potential of mushroom d-glucans in face of their structural variations. Overall, mushroom d-glucans provide a unique set of different structures and physicochemical properties with prebiotic potential, where linkage type and solubility degree seem to be associated with prebiotic activity outcomes. The understanding of the effects of distinct structures and physicochemical properties in mushroom d-glucans on the gut microbiota contributes to the design and selection of new prebiotics in a more predictable way.

Anti-Inflammatory Effect on Colitis and Modulation of Microbiota by Fermented Plant Extract Supplementation

Although results of recent studies suggest that fermented foods strongly affect the gut microbiota composition and that they relieve inflammatory bowel disease symptoms, some reports have described that fermented foods increase some inflammation markers based on differences in fermented food materials. This study evaluated the effects of fermented plant extract (FPE) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice and the effects on fecal microbiota composition in humans. Mice fed 5% FPE with 3% DSS (FPE group) showed no body weight loss, atrophy of colonic length, or bloody stool, similar to mice fed a basal diet (negative group), whereas mice fed 3% DSS (positive group) exhibited those effects. Concentrations of inflammation markers IL-6 and TNF-α were not significantly different between FPE and negative groups; however, those concentrations became higher in the positive group. 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing was used to characterize fecal microbiota in healthy women before and after 3-month FPE supplementation. The FPE supplementation induced increases in Firmicutes phyla and in Clostridiales order, which play a central role in inflammation suppression. These results suggest that FPE enhances Clostridiales growth in the gut and that it has an anti-inflammatory effect.

Food Matrix Effects for Modulating Starch Bioavailability

As the prevalence of obesity and diabetes has continued to increase rapidly in recent years, dietary approaches to regulating glucose homeostasis have gained more attention. Starch is the major source of glucose in the human diet and can have diverse effects, depending on its rate and extent of digestion in the small intestine, on postprandial glycemic response, which over time is associated with blood glucose abnormalities, insulin sensitivity, and even appetitive response and food intake. The classification of starch bioavailability into rapidly digestible starch, slowly digestible starch, and resistant starch highlights the nutritional values of different starches. As starch is the main structure-building macroconstituent of foods, its bioavailability can be manipulated by selection of food matrices with varying degrees of susceptibility to amylolysis and food processing to retain or develop new matrices. In this review, the food factors that may modulate starch bioavailability, with a focus on food matrices, are assessed for a better understanding of their potential contribution to human health. Aspects affecting starch nutritional properties as well as production strategies for healthy foods are also reviewed, e.g., starch characteristics (different type, structure, and modification), food physical properties (food form, viscosity, and integrity), food matrix interactions (lipid, protein, nonstarch polysaccharide, phytochemicals, organic acid, and enzyme inhibitor), and food processing (milling, cooking, and storage).

Microwave treatment enhances human gut microbiota fermentability of isolated insoluble dietary fibers

Most insoluble dietary fibers are known to be relatively poorly fermented by the human gut microbiota. Here, the potential of microwave (MW) treatment to enhance the susceptibility of insoluble fruit polysaccharides to fermentation by the human gut microbiota was evaluated. Insoluble fruits dietary fibers before (xylan A, xylan T, and arabinan) and after MW (xylan A-MW, xylan T-MW, and arabinan-MW) treatment were fermented using an in vitro fermentation model. Gas production, shifts in pH, and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production showed an increase in fermentability of all tested dietary fibers, with an average 4-fold increase in SCFAs production after microwaving with total SCFAs ranging from 17.1 mM in the arabinan-MW to 40.4 mM in the xylan T-MW. While arabinan-MW and xylan T-MW promoted all three SCFAs proportionally (acetate:propionate:butyrate), xylan A-MW led to a marked and slow increase in butyrate reaching 28.1% of total SCFAs at 24 h. Rearrangements in three-dimensional structure that potentially facilitate bacterial accessibility to the dietary fiber were observed by scanning electron microscopy in xylan A-MW, forming coin-like particles with ~1.1 µm diameter. 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated that microbiota shifts were related to both treatment (native versus MW) and dietary fiber type with many butyrogenic species being promoted by xylan A-MW. Overall, MW treatment enhanced insoluble dietary fiber fermentability promoting increased SCFAs production and bacterial shifts which are related to health benefits.

Carbohydrates designed with different digestion rates modulate gastric emptying response in rats

We sought to determine whether design of carbohydrate-based microspheres to have different digestion rates, while retaining the same material properties, could modulate gastric emptying through the ileal brake. Microspheres made to have three slow digestion rates and a rapidly digested starch analogue (maltodextrin) were administrated to rats by gavage and starch contents in the stomach, proximal and distal small intestine, and caecum were measured 2 h post-gavage. A stepwise increase in the amount of starch retained in the stomach was found for microspheres with incrementally slower rates of digestion. Postprandial glycaemic and insulinaemic responses were incrementally lower for the different microspheres than for the rapidly digestible control. A second-meal effect was observed for slowly digestible starch (SDS) microspheres compared to glucose. Thus, dietary slowly digestible carbohydrates were designed to elicit incremental significant changes in gastric emptying, glycaemic and insulinaemic responses, and they may be a means to trigger the ileal brake.

Future foods: a manifesto for research priorities in structural design of foods

A number of major challenges facing modern society are related to the food supply. As the global population grows, it will be critical to feed everyone without damaging the environment. Advances in biotechnology, nanotechnology, structural design, and artificial intelligence are providing farmers and food manufacturers will new tools to address these problems. More and more people are migrating from rural to urban environments, leading to a change in their dietary habits, especially increasing consumption of animal-based products and highly-processed foods. Animal-based foods lead to more greenhouse gas production, land use, water use, and pollution than plant-based ones. Moreover, many animal-based and highly-processed foods have adverse effects on human health and wellbeing. Consumers are therefore being encouraged to consume more plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables, cereals, and legumes. Many people, however, do not have the time, money, or inclination to prepare foods from fresh produce. Consequently, there is a need for the food industry to create a new generation of processed foods that are desirable, tasty, inexpensive, and convenient, but that are also healthy and sustainable. This article highlights some of the main food-related challenges faced by modern society and how scientists are developing innovative technologies to address them.

Conserved and variable responses of the gut microbiome to resistant starch type 2

Resistant starch type 2 (RS2), a dietary fiber comprised solely of glucose, has been extensively studied in clinical trials and animal models for its capacity to improve metabolic and systemic health. Because the health modulatory effects of RS2 and other dietary fibers are thought to occur through modification of the gut microbiome, those studies frequently include assessments of RS2-mediated changes to intestinal microbial composition and function. In this review, we identify the conserved responses of the gut microbiome among 13 human and 35 animal RS2 intervention studies. Consistent outcomes of RS2 interventions include reductions in bacterial α-diversity; increased production of lumenal short-chain fatty acids; and enrichment of Ruminococcus bromii, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, and other gut taxa. Different taxa are usually responsive in animal models, and many RS2-mediated changes to the gut microbiome vary within and between studies. The root causes for this variation are examined with regard to methodological and analytical differences, host genetics and age, species differences (eg, human, animal), health status, intervention dose and duration, and baseline microbial composition. The significant variation found for this single dietary compound highlights the challenges in targeting the gut microbiome to improve health with dietary interventions. This knowledge on RS2 also provides opportunities to improve the design of nutrition studies targeting the gut microbiome and to ultimately identify the precise mechanisms via which dietary fiber benefits human health.

New View on Dietary Fiber Selection for Predictable Shifts in Gut Microbiota

Dietary fibers can be utilized to shape the human gut microbiota. However, the outcomes from most dietary fibers currently used as prebiotics are a result of competition between microbes with overlapping abilities to utilize these fibers. Thus, divergent fiber responses are observed across individuals harboring distinct microbial communities. Here, we propose that dietary fibers can be classified hierarchically according to their specificity toward gut microbes. Highly specific fibers harbor chemical and physical characteristics that allow them to be utilized by only a narrow group of bacteria within the gut, reducing competition for that substrate. The use of such fibers as prebiotics targeted to specific microbes would result in predictable shifts independent of the background microbial composition.