Targeting Gut Microbiota and Host Metabolism with Dendrobium officinale Dietary Fiber to Prevent Obesity and Improve Glucose Homeostasis in Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Effect of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei K56 with galactooligosaccharide synbiotics on obese individuals: an in vitro fermentation model

BACKGROUND

The use of synbiotics is emerging as a promising intervention strategy for regulating the gut microbiota and for preventing or reducing obesity, in comparison with the use of probiotics or prebiotics alone. A previous in vivo study revealed that Lacticaseibacillus paracasei K56 (L. paracasei K56) could alleviate obesity induced in high-fat-diet mice; however, the effect of the synbiotic combination of L. paracasei K56 and prebiotics in obese individuals has not been explored fully.

RESULTS

The effect of prebiotics on the proliferation of L. paracasei K56 was determined by spectrophotometry. The results showed that polydextrose (PG), xylooligosaccharide (XOS), and galactooligosaccharide (GOS) had a greater potential to be used as substrates for L. paracasei K56 than three other prebiotics (melitose, stachyose, and mannan-oligosaccharide). An in vitro fermentation model based on the feces of ten obese female volunteers was then established. The results revealed that K56_GOS showed a significant increase in GOS degradation rate and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) content, and a decrease in gas levels, compared with PG, XOS, GOS, K56_PG, and K56_XOS. Changes in these microbial biomarkers, including a significant increase in Bacteroidota, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Faecalibacterium, and Blautia and a decrease in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio and Escherichia-Shigella in the K56_GOS group, were associated with increased SCFA content and decreased gas levels.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates the effect of the synbiotic combination of L. paracasei K56 and GOS on obese individuals and indicates its potential therapeutic role in obesity treatment. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Comparison of nutritional profile between plant-based meat analogues and real meat: A review focusing on ingredients, nutrient contents, bioavailability, and health impacts

In order to fully understand the nutritional heterogeneity of plant-based meat analogues and real meat, this review summarized their similarities and differences in terms of ingredients, nutrient contents, bioavailability and health impacts. Plant-based meat analogues have some similarities to real meat. However, plant-based meat analogues are lower in protein, cholesterol and VB12 but higher in dietary fiber, carbohydrates, sugar, salt and various food additives than real meat. Moreover, some nutrients in plant-based meat analogues, such as protein and iron, are less bioavailable. There is insufficient evidence that plant-based meat analogues are healthier, which may be related to the specific attributes of these products such as formulation and degree of processing. As things stand, it is necessary to provide comprehensive nutrition information on plant-based meat products so that consumers can make informed choices based on their nutritional needs.

Caffeic acid combined with arabinoxylan or β-glucan attenuates diet-induced obesity in mice via modulation of gut microbiota and metabolites

Polyphenols and dietary fibers in whole grains are important bioactive compounds to reduce risks for obesity. However, whether the combination of the two components exhibits a stronger anti-obesity effect remains unclear. Caffeic acid is a major phenolic acid in cereals, and arabinoxylan and β-glucan are biological macromolecules with numerous health benefits. Here, we investigated the effect of caffeic acid combined with arabinoxylan or β-glucan on glucose and lipid metabolism, gut microbiota, and metabolites in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Caffeic acid combined with arabinoxylan or β-glucan significantly reduced the body weight, blood glucose, and serum free fatty acid concentrations. Caffeic acid combined with β-glucan effectively decreased serum total cholesterol levels and hepatic lipid accumulation, modulated oxidative and inflammatory stress, and improved gut barrier function. Compared with arabinoxylan, β-glucan, and caffeic acid alone, caffeic acid combined with arabinoxylan or β-glucan exhibited a better capacity to modulate gut microbiota, including increased microbial diversity, reduced Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, and increased abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium. Furthermore, caffeic acid combined with β-glucan reversed HFD-induced changes in microbiota-derived metabolites involving tryptophan, purine, and bile acid metabolism. Thus, caffeic acid and β-glucan had a synergistic anti-obesity effect by regulating specific gut microbiota and metabolites.

Raspberry polysaccharides attenuate hepatic inflammation and oxidative stress in diet-induced obese mice by enhancing butyrate-mediated intestinal barrier function

Obesity and associated liver diseases are becoming global public health challenges. Raspberry (Rubus chingii Hu.), as a medicine food homology plant, possesses a series of health-promoting properties, but its protective effect on obesity-related liver injury and the potential mechanisms remain obscure. Herein high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice were orally treated with raspberry polysaccharides (RCP) for 14 weeks. Treatment with RCP alleviated obesity and associated symptoms including hyperglycemia, hyperlipemia, endotoxemia, as well as hepatic inflammation and oxidant stress in HFD-induced obese mice. RCP restructured the gut microbiota and host metabolism especially by increasing the levels of Dubosiella and its metabolite butyrate. Besides, exogenous butyrate supplementation protected against intestinal barrier disruption, and thereby reduced inflow of lipopolysaccharide and mitigated inflammation and oxidative injury in the liver of obese mice. Therefore, we suggest that RCP can be utilized as a novel prebiotics to improve obesity-induced hepatic oxidative injury by enhancing butyrate-mediated intestinal barrier function.

Manno-oligosaccharides from Cassia Seed Gum Attenuate Atherosclerosis through Inflammation Modulation and Intestinal Barrier Integrity Improvement in ApoE-/- Mice

SCOPE

Manno-oligosaccharides from cassia seed gum (CMOS) have demonstrated anti-inflammatory and regulatory effects on cholesterol metabolism. However, their protective effects against the progression of atherosclerosis (AS) and underlying molecular mechanisms have not been investigated. This study investigates the anti-atherosclerotic effects of CMOS on ApoE-/- mice.

METHODS AND RESULTS

CMOS are supplemented in atherosclerotic male ApoE-/- mice fed with a high-fat-high-cholesterol diet (HFHCD). After the 12-week intervention, CMOS at 1200 mg kg-1 ·bw d-1 significantly decrease the atherosclerotic lesion area by 0.63-fold and the aortic arch lesion size by 0.63-fold when compared to the HFHCD group. Moreover, inflammation in atherosclerotic lesions is reduced by CMOS intervention, and the levels of serum lipids and inflammatory cytokines are decreased. The number of goblet cells and the expression of intestinal epithelial tight junction proteins in the H-CMOS group increase, thus indicating that CMOS can restore intestinal barrier integrity in atherosclerotic mice. Furthermore, CMOS reshape the unbalanced gut microbiota in ApoE-/- mice caused by HFHCD, and reduce the relative abundance of Desulfovibrio and Faecalibaculum that exhibits positive relationships with inflammation.

CONCLUSION

CMOS inhibit inflammation, alter intestinal barrier integrity, and regulate gut microbiota to attenuate AS in ApoE-/- mice.

Structure, Health Benefits, Mechanisms, and Gut Microbiota of Dendrobium officinale Polysaccharides: A Review

Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides (DOPs) are important active polysaccharides found in Dendrobium officinale, which is commonly used as a conventional food or herbal medicine and is well known in China. DOPs can influence the composition of the gut microbiota and the degradation capacity of these symbiotic bacteria, which in turn may determine the efficacy of dietary interventions. However, the necessary analysis of the relationship between DOPs and the gut microbiota is lacking. In this review, we summarize the extraction, structure, health benefits, and related mechanisms of DOPs, construct the DOPs-host axis, and propose that DOPs are potential prebiotics, mainly composed of 1,4-β-D-mannose, 1,4-β-D-glucose, and O-acetate groups, which induce an increase in the abundance of gut microbiota such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Akkermansia, Bacteroides, and Prevotella. In addition, we found that when exposed to DOPs with different structural properties, the gut microbiota may exhibit different diversity and composition and provide health benefits, such as metabolism regulations, inflammation modulation, immunity moderation, and cancer intervention. This may contribute to facilitating the development of functional foods and health products to improve human health.

Glutamine Ameliorates Liver Steatosis via Regulation of Glycolipid Metabolism and Gut Microbiota in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Obesity and its associated conditions, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), are risk factors for health. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of glutamine (Gln) on liver steatosis induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) and HEPG2 cells induced by oleic acid. Gln demonstrated a positive influence on hepatic homeostasis by suppressing acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) and promoting sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) expression while improving glucose metabolism by regulating serine/threonine protein kinase (AKT)/factor forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) signals in vivo and in vitro. Obese Gln-fed mice had higher colonic short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) contents and lower inflammation factor protein levels in the liver, HEPG2 cells, and jejunum. Gln-treated obese mice had an effective decrease in Firmicutes abundance. These findings indicate that Gln serves as a nutritional tool in managing obesity and related disorders.

Gut microbiota: A magical multifunctional target regulated by medicine food homology species

BACKGROUND

The relationship between gut microbiota and human health has gradually been recognized. Increasing studies show that the disorder of gut microbiota is related to the occurrence and development of many diseases. Metabolites produced by the gut microbiota are responsible for their extensive regulatory roles. In addition, naturally derived medicine food homology species with low toxicity and high efficiency have been clearly defined owing to their outstanding physiological and pharmacological properties in disease prevention and treatment.

AIM OF REVIEW

Based on supporting evidence, the current review summarizes the representative work of medicine food homology species targeting the gut microbiota to regulate host pathophysiology and discusses the challenges and prospects in this field. It aims to facilitate the understanding of the relationship among medicine food homology species, gut microbiota, and human health and further stimulate the advancement of more relevant research.

KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW

As this review reveals, from the initial practical application to more mechanism studies, the relationship among medicine food homology species, gut microbiota, and human health has evolved into an irrefutable interaction. On the one hand, through affecting the population structure, metabolism, and function of gut microbiota, medicine food homology species maintain the homeostasis of the intestinal microenvironment and human health by affecting the population structure, metabolism, and function of gut microbiota. On the other hand, the gut microbiota is also involved in the bioconversion of the active ingredients from medicine food homology species and thus influences their physiological and pharmacological properties.

Analysis of gut bacteriome of in utero arsenic-exposed mice using 16S rRNA-based metagenomic approach

Introduction

Approximately 200 million people worldwide are affected by arsenic toxicity emanating from the consumption of drinking water containing inorganic arsenic above the prescribed maximum contaminant level. The current investigation deals with the role of prenatal arsenic exposure in modulating the gut microbial community and functional pathways of the host.

Method

16S rRNA-based next-generation sequencing was carried out to understand the effects of in utero 0.04 mg/kg (LD) and 0.4 mg/kg (HD) of arsenic exposure. This was carried out from gestational day 15 (GD-15) until the birth of pups to understand the alterations in bacterial diversity.

Results

The study focused on gestational exposure to arsenic and the altered gut microbial community at phyla and genus levels, along with diversity indices. A significant decrease in firmicutes was observed in the gut microbiome of mice treated with arsenic. Functional analysis revealed that a shift in genes involved in crucial pathways such as insulin signaling and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease pathways may lead to metabolic diseases in the host.

Discussion

The present investigation may hypothesize that in utero arsenic exposure can perturb the gut bacterial composition significantly as well as the functional pathways of the gestationally treated pups. This research paves the way to further investigate the probable mechanistic insights in the field of maternal exposure environments, which may play a key role in epigenetic modulations in developing various disease endpoints in the progeny.

Olive oil-derived endocannabinoid-like mediators inhibit palatable food-induced reward and obesity

N-oleoylglycine (OlGly), a lipid derived from the basic component of olive oil, oleic acid, and N-oleoylalanine (OlAla) are endocannabinoid-like mediators. We report that OlGly and OlAla, by activating the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα), reduce the rewarding properties of a highly palatable food, dopamine neuron firing in the ventral tegmental area, and the obesogenic effect of a high-fat diet rich in lard (HFD-L). An isocaloric olive oil HFD (HFD-O) reduced body weight gain compared to the HFD-L, in a manner reversed by PPARα antagonism, and enhanced brain and intestinal OlGly levels and gut microbial diversity. OlGly or OlAla treatment of HFD-L mice resulted in gut microbiota taxonomic changes partly similar to those induced by HFD-O. We suggest that OlGly and OlAla control body weight by counteracting highly palatable food overconsumption, and possibly rebalancing the gut microbiota, and provide a potential new mechanism of action for the obeso-preventive effects of olive oil-rich diets.

Amelioration of Obesity-Related Disorders in High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice following Fecal Microbiota Transplantation from Inulin-Dosed Mice

The role of inulin in alleviating obesity-related disorders has been documented; yet, its underlying mechanisms still need to be further investigated. This study attempted to elucidate the causative link between the gut microbiota and the beneficial effect of inulin on obesity-related disorders via transferring the fecal microbiota from inulin-dosed mice to high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese recipient mice. The results show that inulin supplementation can decrease body weight, fat accumulation, and systemic inflammation and can also enhance glucose metabolism in HFD-induced obese mice. Treatment with inulin reshaped the structure and composition of the gut microbiota in HFD-induced obese mice, as characterized by increases in the relative abundances of Bifidobacterium and Muribaculum and decreases in unidentified_Lachnospiraceae and Lachnoclostridium. In addition, we found that these favorable effects of inulin could be partially transferable by fecal microbiota transplantation, and Bifidobacterium and Muribaculum might be the key bacterial genera. Therefore, our results suggest that inulin ameliorates obesity-related disorders by targeting the gut microbiota.

The linkage of gut microbiota and the property theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM): Cold-natured and sweet-flavored TCMs as an example

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The property theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a unique medical theory based on an extensive clinical practice for thousands of years, which guides TCM doctors choosing proper medicines to treat specific diseases. The nature and flavor of TCM are a high generalization of drug's characteristics according to the property theory. Despite intensive investigations, the modern interpretation of TCM property theory still confronts several challenges, which greatly hampers the elucidation of TCM's mechanisms as well as its application. Compelling evidence has proved that gut microbiota may be a potential indicator for TCM's efficacy and mechanism. Nevertheless, at present, the relationship between the gut microbiota and the nature and flavor of TCM has not been fully elucidated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To fill the gap in this field, we developed a comprehensive study to investigate the relationship between gut microbial community and TCM's property.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We searched "PubMed" and "China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI)" with the key word "gut microbiota", and screened the published articles related to TCM. In this review, we mainly applied cold-natured and sweet-flavored TCMs as an example to explore the modulation of cold-natured and sweet-flavored TCMs on gut microbiota, and identify the potential relationship between the alterations of gut microbiota and TCM's efficacy.

RESULTS

We found cold-natured and sweet-flavored TCMs possess several pharmacological activities and generally enrich beneficial bacteria like Akkermansia, Bacteroides, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, which is in good accordance with their pharmacological effects. Simultaneously, these TCMs reduce the relative abundance of some harmful bacteria belonging to Firmicutes (Streptpcoccus, Enterococcus, Turicibacter, Anaerostipes and Oscillibacter) and Proteobacteria (Helicobacter, Enterobacter, Sutterella, Klebsiella, Desulfovibrio, Escherichia coli and Campylobacter jejuni). These results indicate that there are some intrinsic correlations between gut microbiota and the property of TCM, and gut microbiota may serve as a potential indicator to reflect the property of TCM.

CONCLUSIONS

This pilot but comprehensive review provides an interesting proposal that the ancient theory of TCM property may be interpreted by the modern biological findings in gut microbiome.

Role of herbal medicine and gut microbiota in the prevention and treatment of obesity

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Obesity is a common metabolic dysfunction disease, which is highly correlated with the homeostasis of gut microbiota (GM). The dysregulation of GM on energy metabolism, immune response, insulin resistance and endogenous metabolites (e.g., short chain fatty acids and secondary bile acids) can affect the occurrence and development of obesity. Herbal medicine (HM) has particular advantages and definite therapeutic effects in the prevention and treatment of obesity, but its underlying mechanism is not fully clear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In this review, the representative basic and clinical anti-obesity studies associated with the homeostasis of GM regulated by HM including active components, single herb and herbal formulae were summarized and discussed. We aim to provide a state of art reference for the mechanism research of HM in treating obesity and the further development of new anti-obesity drugs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The relevant information was collected by searching keywords (obesity, herbal medicine, prescriptions, mechanism, GM, short chain fatty acids, etc.) from scientific databases (CNKI, PubMed, SpringerLink, Web of Science, SciFinder, etc.).

RESULTS

GM dysbiosis did occur in obese patients and mice, whiles the intervention of GM could ameliorate the condition of obesity. HM (e.g., berberine, Ephedra sinica, Rehjnannia glutinosa, and Buzhong Yiqi prescription) has been proved to possess a certain regulation on GM and an explicit effect on obesity, but the exact mechanism of HM in improving obesity by regulating GM remains superficial.

CONCLUSION

GM is involved in HM against obesity, and GM can be a novel therapeutic target for treating obesity.

Consumption of sugar sweetened beverages, artificially sweetened beverages and fruit juices and risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and mortality: A meta-analysis

Introduction

Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake is associated with an increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases. However, evidence regarding associations of artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs) and fruit juices with cardiometabolic diseases is mixed. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between the SSB, ASB and fruit juice consumption with the incidence of cardiometabolic conditions and mortality.

Methods

Relevant prospective studies were identified by searching PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library until December 2022 without language restrictions. The pooled relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated for the association of SSBs, ASBs, and fruit juices with the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D), cardiovascular disease (CVD), and mortality by using random-effect models.

Results

A total of 72 articles were included in this meta-analysis study. Significantly positive associations were observed between the consumption of individual beverages and T2D risk (RR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.17, 1.38 for SSBs; RR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.56 for ASBs; and RR:0.98; 95% CI: 0.93, 1.03 for fruit juices). Moreover, our findings showed that intakes of SSBs and ASBs were significantly associated with risk of hypertension, stroke, and all-cause mortality (RR ranging from 1.08 to 1.54; all p < 0.05). A dose-response meta-analysis showed monotonic associations between SSB intake and hypertension, T2D, coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke and mortality, and the linear association was only significant between ASB consumption and hypertension risk. Higher SSB and ASB consumptions were associated with a greater risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases and mortality. Fruit juice intake was associated with a higher risk of T2D.

Conclusion

Therefore, our findings suggest that neither ASBs nor fruit juices could be considered as healthier beverages alternative to SSBs for achieving improved health.

Systematic Review Registration: [PROSPERO], identifier [No. CRD42022307003].

Comparison of the Microbiome-Metabolome Response to Copper Sulfate and Copper Glycinate in Growing Pigs

This study aims to compare the fecal microbiome-metabolome response to copper sulfate (CuSO₄) and copper glycinate (Cu-Gly) in pigs. Twelve Meishan gilts were allocated into the CuSO₄ group and the Cu-Gly group (fed on a basal diet supplemented with 60 mg/kg copper from CuSO₄ or Cu-Gly) paired in litter and body weight. After a two-week feeding trial, the Cu-Gly group had a higher copper digestibility, blood hemoglobin, and platelet volume and higher levels of plasma iron and insulin-like growth factor-1 than the CuSO₄ group. The Cu-Gly treatment increased the abundance of the Lachnospiraceae family and the genera Lachnospiraceae XPB1014, Corprococcus_3, Anaerorhabdus_furcosa_group, Lachnospiraceae_FCS020_group, and Lachnospiraceae_NK4B4_group and decreased the abundance of the Synergistetes phylum and Peptostreptococcaceae family compared to the CuSO₄ treatment. Moreover, the Cu-Gly group had a lower concentration of 20-Oxo-leukotriene E4 and higher concentrations of butyric acid, pentanoic acid, isopentanoic acid, coumarin, and Nb-p-Coumaroyl-tryptamine than the CuSO₄ group. The abundance of Synergistetes was positively correlated with the fecal copper content and negatively correlated with the fecal butyric acid content. The abundance of the Lachnospiraceae_XPB1014_group genus was positively correlated with the plasma iron level and fecal contents of coumarin and butyric acid. In conclusion, Cu-Gly and CuSO₄ could differentially affect fecal microbiota and metabolites, which partially contributes to the intestinal health of pigs in different manners.

Potential Therapeutic Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Diabetes in Rodents: A Review from an NMR-Based Metabolomics Perspective

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used to treat diabetes for a long time, but its application has not been widely accepted due to unstandardized product quality and complex pharmacological mechanisms. The modernization of TCM is crucial for its further development, and in recent years the metabolomics technique has largely driven its modernization. This review focuses on the application of NMR-based metabolomics in diabetic therapy using TCM. We identified a series of metabolic pathways that altered significantly after TCM treatment, providing a better understanding of the metabolic mechanisms of TCM for diabetes care.

Application of Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry in the Identification of Dendrobium devonianum Paxt and Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo Grown in Longling Area of Yunnan, China

In this study, in order to protect the characteristic Dendrobium devonianum Paxt industry in the Longling area, and promote the healthy development of its characteristic Chinese herbal medicines in Yunnan Province, China, the identification of Dendrobium devonianum Paxt and Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo from Longling county was discussed using time of flight mass spectrometry. The data of 13 Dendrobium devonianum and 7 Dendrobium officinale in the Longling area were collected by TOF MS-IDA-15 MS/MS mode, and the collected data were analyzed by PCA and T-test using MarkerView software, and the difference markers were searched using the database to confirm their compound structures. In positive and negative ion modes, 3645 and 2344 peaks were detected, respectively; 64 positive ion compounds and 60 negative ion compounds, for a total of 124 compounds were identified, mainly including organic acids, polyphenols, alkaloids, amino acids and their derivatives, benzene and its derivatives, and other compounds. The score plot and loading plot analyzed by PCA show that Dendrobium devonianum and Dendrobium officinale collected in the Longling area can be effectively identified and differentiated by high-resolution mass spectrometry with the 15 different markers in positive ion mode and 17 markers in negative ion mode, respectively. The successful identification of Dendrobium devonianum and Dendrobium officinale fully demonstrates that TOF MS can be effectively used in the identification of Dendrobium and related Chinese herbal medicines with broadly application foreground.