Changes in nutrient absorption in children and adolescents caused by fructans, especially fructooligosaccharides and inulin

Mutant β-fructofuranosidase synthesizing blastose [β-d-Fruf-(2→6)-d-Glcp]

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are leading prebiotics that help keep the gut healthy and aid wellness by stimulating the growth and activity of beneficial intestinal bacteria. The best-studied FOS are inulin-type FOS, mainly oligosaccharides with β-Fruf-(2→1)-Fruf linkages, including 1-kestose [β-Fruf-(2→1)-β-Fruf-(2↔1)-α-Glcp] and nystose [β-Fruf-(2→1)-β-Fruf-(2→1)-β-Fruf-(2↔1)-α-Glcp]. However, the properties of other types of FOS-levan-type FOS with β-Fruf-(2→6)-Fruf linkages and neo-type FOS with β-Fruf-(2→6)-Glcp linkages-remain ambiguous because efficient methods have not been established for their synthesis. Here, using site-saturation mutation of residue His79 of β-fructofuranosidase from Zymomonas mobilis NBRC13756, we successfully obtained a mutant β-fructofuranosidase that specifically produces neo-type FOS. The H79G enzyme variant loses the native β-Fruf-(2→1)-Fru-transfer ability (which produces 1-kestose), and instead has β-Fruf-(2→6)-Glc-transfer ability and produces neokestose. Its hydrolytic activity specific to the β-Fruf-(2↔1)-α-Glcp bond of neokestose then yields blastose [β-Fruf-(2→6)-Glcp]. The enzyme produces 0.4 M blastose from 1.0 M sucrose (80 % of the theoretical yield). The production system for blastose established here will contribute to the elucidation of the physiological functions of this disaccharide.

Optimized acid hydrolysis conditions for better characterization the structure of inulin-type fructan from Polygonatum sibiricum

Polygonatum sibiricum is an edible plant species in China known for its abundant polysaccharides. However, correlations between its analytical methods and fine structure have not been established. This is usually due to incomplete cleavage of the glycosidic linkages and instability of hydrolysis. In this study, a new optimal acid hydrolysis method for monosaccharide composition (2 M H2SO4 for 1 h) and methylation analysis (2 mol TFA hydrolysis at 100 °C for 1 h) was developed for characterization of inulin-type fructans, resulting in significantly improved monosaccharide recovery and providing more reliable methylation data. The effectiveness of this method was demonstrated through its application to the study of polysaccharide from P. sibiricum (IPS-70S). The results showed that IPS-70S with a molecular weight of 3.6 kDa is an inulin-type fructans consisting of fructose and glucose in a molar ratio of 27:1. Methylation and NMR analysis indicated that IPS-70S contains →2)-Fruf-(6 → or →2)-Fruf-(1 → with branching →1,6)-Fruf-(2 → and terminates in Glcp-(1 → or Fruf-(2→. In conclusion, optimal acid hydrolysis applicable to the specific polysaccharides contribute to its structurally characterized. The newly optimized acid hydrolysis method for monosaccharide composition and methylation analysis offers a reliable and effective approach to the structural characterization of inulin-type fructans from P. sibiricum. Providing reliable basis for the overall work of NMR analysis and structural analysis, which have potential significance in the field of polysaccharides structural characterization.

The Human Microbiome and Its Role in Musculoskeletal Disorders

Musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs) are characterized as injuries and illnesses that affect the musculoskeletal system. MSDs affect every population worldwide and are associated with substantial global burden. Variations in the makeup of the gut microbiota may be related to chronic MSDs. There is growing interest in exploring potential connections between chronic MSDs and variations in the composition of gut microbiota. The human microbiota is a complex community consisting of viruses, archaea, bacteria, and eukaryotes, both inside and outside of the human body. These microorganisms play crucial roles in influencing human physiology, impacting metabolic and immunological systems in health and disease. Different body areas host specific types of microorganisms, with facultative anaerobes dominating the gastrointestinal tract (able to thrive with or without oxygen), while strict aerobes prevail in the nasal cavity, respiratory tract, and skin surfaces (requiring oxygen for development). Together with the immune system, these bacteria have coevolved throughout time, forming complex biological relationships. Changes in the microbial ecology of the gut may have a big impact on health and can help illnesses develop. These changes are frequently impacted by lifestyle choices and underlying medical disorders. The potential for safety, expenses, and efficacy of microbiota-based medicines, even with occasional delivery, has attracted interest. They are, therefore, a desirable candidate for treating MSDs that are chronic and that may have variable progression patterns. As such, the following is a narrative review to address the role of the human microbiome as it relates to MSDs.

Maternal Vitamin D and Inulin Supplementation in Oxidized Oil Diet Improves Growth Performance and Hepatic Innate Immunity in Offspring Mice

Dietary oxidized fat contains harmful materials such as hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde (MDA). Excessive oxidized fat intake during pregnancy and lactation not only leads to maternal body injury but also damages offspring health. Our previous study demonstrated that vitamin D (VD) had antioxidative capability in sows. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of maternal VD and inulin supplementation in oxidized oil diet on the growth performance and oxidative stress of their offspring. Sixty 5-month-old C57BL/6N female mice were randomly divided into five groups: Control group (basal diet, n = 12), OF group (oxidized-soybean-oil-replaced diet, n = 12), OFV group (oxidized-soybean-oil-replaced diet + 7000 IU/kg VD, n = 12), OFI group (oxidized-soybean-oil-replaced diet + 5% inulin, n = 12) and OFVI group (oxidized-soybean-oil-replaced diet + 7000 IU/kg VD + 5% inulin, n = 12). Mice were fed with the respective diet during pregnancy and lactation. The offspring were then slaughtered on day 21 of age at weaning. Results showed that a maternal oxidized oil diet impaired body weight and liver weight gain of offspring during lactation compared to the control group, while maternal VD, inulin or VD and inulin mixture supplementation reversed this effect. In addition, the activity of T-AOC in the liver of offspring was lower in the OF group than that in the control group, but could be restored by maternal VD and inulin mixture supplementation. Furthermore, the gene expression of both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as Il-6, Tnfα and Il-10, in offspring liver were downregulated by a maternal oxidized oil diet compared with the control group, but they were restored by maternal VD or VD and inulin mixture supplementation. The expressions of Vdr and Cyp27a1 were decreased by a maternal oxidized oil diet compared with the control group, while they could be increased by VD or VD and inulin mixture supplementation. Conclusion: maternal oxidized oil diet intake could impair the growth performance by inducing oxidative stress, but this can be relieved by maternal VD and inulin supplementation.

Intake of slow-digesting carbohydrates is related to changes in the microbiome and its functional pathways in growing rats with obesity induced by diet

INTRODUCTION

The main cause of insulin resistance in childhood is obesity, which contributes to future comorbidities as in adults. Although high-calorie diets and lack of exercise contribute to metabolic disease development, food quality rather than the quantity of macronutrients is more important than food density. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of changing the quality of carbohydrates from rapidly to slowly digestible carbohydrates on the composition of the gut microbiota and the profiles of the functional pathways in growing rats with obesity due to a high-fat diet (HFD).

METHODS

During the course of 4 weeks, rats growing on an HFD-containing carbohydrates with different digestive rates were fed either HFD-containing carbohydrates with a rapid digestion rate (OBE group) or HFD-containing carbohydrates with a slow digestion rate (OBE-ISR group). A non-obese group (NOB) was included as a reference, and rats were fed on a rodent standard diet (AIN93G). An analysis of gut microbiota was conducted using 16S rRNA-based metagenomics; a linear mixed-effects model (LMM) was used to determine changes in abundance between baseline and 4 weeks of treatment, and functional pathways were identified. Gut microbiota composition at bacterial diversity and relative abundance, at phylum and genus levels, and functional profiles were analyzed by integrating the Integrated Microbial Genomes (IMG) database.

RESULTS

The groups showed comparable gut microbiota at baseline. At the end of the treatment, animals from the ISR group exhibited differences at the phylum levels by decreasing the diversity of Fisher's index and Firmicutes (newly named as Bacillota), and increasing the Pielou's evenness and Bacteroidetes (newly named as Bacteroidota); at the genus level by increasing Alistipes, Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Butyricimonas, Lachnoclostridium, Flavonifractor, Ruminiclostridium 5, and Faecalibaculum and decreasing Muribaculum, Blautia, and Ruminiclostridium 9. Remarkably, relative abundances of genera Tyzzerella and Angelakisella were higher in the OBE group compared to NOB and OBE-ISR groups. In addition, some microbiota carbohydrate metabolism pathways such as glycolysis, glucuronic acid degradation, pentose phosphate pathway, methanogenesis, and fatty acid biosynthesis exhibited increased activity in the OBE-ISR group after the treatment. Higher levels of acetate and propionate were found in the feces of the ISR group compared with the NOB and OBE groups.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study demonstrate that replacing rapidly digestible carbohydrates with slowly digestible carbohydrates within an HFD improve the composition of the gut microbiota. Consequently, metabolic disturbances associated with obesity may be prevented.

Effect of Inulin on Organic Acids and Microstructure of Synbiotic Cheddar-Type Cheese Made from Buffalo Milk

The current study aimed to produce synbiotic cheese, adding inulin and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis as prebiotics and probiotics, respectively. The physicochemical analysis, minerals and organic acids content, sensory evaluation, and probiotic count of the cheese were performed during the ripening. The significant effect of inulin (p ≤ 0.01) was found during the ripening period, and changes in physiochemical composition, minerals, and organic acid contents were also observed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the cheese revealed that inulin could improve the cheese structure. Meanwhile, inulin increased the likeliness of the cheese, and its probiotic viability remained above 10⁷ colony forming unit (CFU) per gram during ripening.

Effects of Calcium Lactate-Enriched Pumpkin on Calcium Status in Ovariectomized Rats

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of enriched pumpkin on calcium status in ovariectomized rats. The study was conducted in sixty female Wistar rats, which were divided into six groups: a group fed a standard diet (C) and five ovariectomized groups fed a standard diet (OVX_C) or a diet with calcium lactate (CaL), with calcium lactate-enriched pumpkin (P_CaL), with calcium lactate and alendronate (CaL_B), or with calcium lactate-enriched pumpkin with alendronate (P_CaL_B). After 12 weeks of the intervention, the rats were sacrificed, and their blood and tissues were collected. The calcium concentrations in serum and in tissues were measured using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Serum concentrations of procollagen type-1 amino-terminal propeptide (PINP), parathyroid hormone PTH, estrogen (ES), and osteocalcin (OC) were determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). It was found that enriched pumpkin increased the calcium level in the kidneys (194.13 ± 41.01 mg) compared to the C (87.88 ± 12.42 mg) and OVX_C (79.29 ± 7.66 mg) groups. The addition of alendronate increased the calcium level in the femurs (267.63 ± 23.63 mg) and more than six times in the kidneys (541.33 ± 62.91 mg) compared to the OVX_C group (234.53 ± 21.67 mg and 87.88 ± 12.42 mg, respectively). We found that the CaL, P_CaL, and CaL_B groups had significantly lower PINP serum concentrations (4.45 ± 0.82 ng/mL, 4.14 ± 0.69 ng/mL, and 3.77 ± 0.33 ng/mL) and higher PTH serum levels (3.39 ± 0.54 ng/dL, 3.38 ± 0.57 ng/dL, and 3.47 ± 0.28 ng/dL) than the OVX_C group (4.69 ± 0.82 ng/mL and 2.59 ± 0.45 ng/dL, respectively). In conclusion, pumpkin enriched with calcium lactate affects calcium status and normalizes PINP and PTH serum levels in ovariectomized rats. Diet with enriched pumpkin and alendronate increase calcium concentration in the femur. Enriched pumpkin causes calcium to accumulate in the kidneys of ovariectomized rats; alendronate significantly exacerbates this effect.

Prebiotics, Probiotics, and Postbiotics in the Prevention and Treatment of Anemia

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is very common and affects approximately 1/3 of the world’s human population. There are strong research data that some probiotics, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum improve iron absorption and influence the course of anemia. Furthermore, prebiotics, including galactooligosaccharides (GOS) and fructooligosaccharides (FOS), increase iron bioavailability and decrease its destructive effect on the intestinal microbiota. In addition, multiple postbiotics, which are probiotic metabolites, including vitamins, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), and tryptophan, are involved in the regulation of intestinal absorption and may influence iron status in humans. This review presents the actual data from research studies on the influence of probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics on the prevention and therapy of IDA and the latest findings regarding their mechanisms of action. A comparison of the latest research data and theories regarding the role of pre-, post-, and probiotics and the mechanism of their action in anemias is also presented and discussed.

Effect of agave fructans on xanthan rheology: Impact on sodium caseinate emulsion properties

The influence of agave fructans (AF) (1-10%) and xanthan (from 0.03% to 0.25%) in combination with sodium caseinate (SC) at 1% on the rheological and physicochemical properties of aqueous phases and emulsions was evaluated. Steady-state flow behavior, particle size distribution, and stability studies were used to characterize the systems. The aqueous systems displayed the shear-thinning behavior characteristic of xanthan solutions; however, this behavior was modified by the presence of SC and AF due to interactions between AF-SC and AF-xanthan based on predominant hydrogen bonding because of the hydroxyl groups on AF. In emulsions, an increase in viscosity due to the effect of the AF concentration reflects a probable association of fructan aggregates on the surface of SC particles that reinforce the interfacial layer of SC, while xanthan contributes to an increase in the viscosity of the continuous phase, which effectively prevents coalescence and floc formation even at higher concentrations, despite the possible existence of a depletion flocculation effect attenuated by the interaction between AF-SC and AF-xanthan. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: These results can be of use, in an important way, in the design of stable functional emulsions in which there is an application for agave fructans recognized as dietary fiber, also considering their peculiar way of interacting with xanthan favoring its stabilizing functionality.

Efficiency of Resistant Starch and Dextrins as Prebiotics: A Review of the Existing Evidence and Clinical Trials

In well-developed countries, people have started to pay additional attention to preserving healthy dietary habits, as it has become common knowledge that neglecting them may easily lead to severe health impairments, namely obesity, malnutrition, several cardiovascular diseases, type-2 diabetes, cancers, hypertensions, and inflammations. Various types of functional foods were developed that are enriched with vitamins, probiotics, prebiotics, and dietary fibers in order to develop a healthy balanced diet and to improve the general health of consumers. Numerous kinds of fiber are easily found in nature, but they often have a noticeable undesired impact on the sensory features of foods or on the digestive system. This led to development of modified dietary fibers, which have little to no impact on taste of foods they are added to. At the same time, they possess all the benefits similar to those of prebiotics, such as regulating gastrointestinal microbiota composition, increasing satiety, and improving the metabolic parameters of a human. In the following review, the evidence supporting prebiotic properties of modified starches, particularly resistant starches and their derivatives, resistant dextrins, was assessed and deliberated, which allowed drawing an interesting conclusion on the subject.

Systematic review of the ingestion of fructooligosaccharides on the absorption of minerals and trace elements versus control groups

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are non-caloric and unconventional sugars that are not metabolized by the human body, but can be fermented by the colonic microbiota, leading to some beneficial effects on the absorption of minerals and trace elements. There is, however, a lack of research that describes the continued consumption of FOS in the diet between healthy and ill individuals and their impact. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the evidence behind the role of FOS in the absorption of minerals and trace elements in the human body.

METHODS

The bibliographic research covered the period from January 2000 to August 2020. Four databases were investigated. We follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyzes (PRISMA). The systematic review protocol was recorded in PROSPERO (139621). Two reviewers examined and extracted data from qualitative and quantitative studies published in the main databases, through a careful analysis. The risk of bias was assessed by four reviewers.

RESULTS

Of a total of 1494 texts, 30 complete articles composed this review. Two overarching categories represented the results: animal models and human models (randomized crossover design). Regarding human models, the results showed an improvement in minerals, especially the absorption of calcium, magnesium and iron after the ingestion of FOS, and specifically the absorption of minerals and trace elements in postmenopausal women was improved.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of FOS to improve the absorption of minerals and trace elements seems to be beneficial with evidence corroborating both in human and animal studies. However, the literature lacks articles exploring the daily dose and duration for FOS benefits, as well as long-term side effects in healthy or unhealthy subjects. Future research should focus on addressing the extent of the functional effect of this fiber and identifying the impact on overall health.

Does intestinal dysbiosis contribute to an aberrant inflammatory response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in frail patients?

In a few months, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has become the main health problem worldwide. Epidemiologic studies revealed that populations have different vulnerabilities to SARS-CoV-2. Severe outcomes of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with an increased risk of death are observed in patients with metabolic syndrome, as well as diabetic and heart conditions (frail population). Excessive proinflammatory cytokine storm could be the main cause of increased vulnerability in this frail population. In patients with diabetes and/or heart disease, a low inflammatory state is often associated with gut dysbiosis. The increase amount of microbial metabolites (i.e., trimethylamine N-oxide and lipopolysaccharide), which generate an inflammatory microenvironment, is probably associated with an improved risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Nutritional interventions aimed at restoring the gut microbial balance could represent preventive strategies to protect the frail population from COVID-19. This narrative review presents the possible molecular mechanisms by which intestinal dysbiosis that enhances the inflammatory state could promote the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Some nutritional strategies to counteract inflammation in frail patients are also analyzed.