Blueberry and Blackberry Anthocyanins Ameliorate Metabolic Syndrome by Modulating Gut Microbiota and Short-Chain Fatty Acids Metabolism in High-Fat Diet-Fed C57BL/6J Mice

Diet-Induced Rodent Obesity Is Prevented and the Fecal Microbiome Is Improved with Elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis) Juice Powder

Anthocyanin-rich edible berries protect against diet-induced obesity in animal models. Prevention is mediated through the bidirectional relationship with the fecal microbiome, and gut-derived phenolic metabolite absorption increases with physical activity, which may influence bioactivity. The objective of this study was to test elderberry juice powder on the development of diet-induced obesity and its influence on the fecal microbiome alone or in combination with physical activity. Male C57BL/6J mice were assigned to one of four treatments, including (1) high-fat diet without wheel access; (2) high-fat diet with unlimited wheel access; (3) high-fat diet supplemented with 10% elderberry juice powder without wheel access; and (4) high-fat diet supplemented with 10% elderberry juice powder with unlimited wheel access. Body weight gain, fat pads, and whole-body fat content in mice fed elderberry juice were significantly less than in mice fed the control diet independent of wheel access. At the end of the study, active mice fed elderberry juice ate significantly more than active mice fed a control diet. There was no difference in the physical activity between active groups. Elderberry juice increasedBifidobacterium, promotedAkkermansia and Anaeroplasma, and prevented the growth of Desulfovibrio. Elderberry juice is a potent inhibitor of diet-induced obesity with action mediated by the gut microbiota.

New insights into the interplay between autophagy, gut microbiota and insulin resistance in metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a widespread and multifactorial disorder, and the study of its pathogenesis and treatment remains challenging. Autophagy, an intracellular degradation system that maintains cellular renewal and homeostasis, is essential for maintaining antimicrobial defense, preserving epithelial barrier integrity, promoting mucosal immune response, maintaining intestinal homeostasis, and regulating gut microbiota and microbial metabolites. Dysfunctional autophagy is implicated in the pathological mechanisms of MetS, involving insulin resistance (IR), chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, with IR being a predominant feature. The study of autophagy represents a valuable field of research with significant clinical implications for identifying autophagy-related signals, pathways, mechanisms, and treatment options for MetS. Given the multifactorial etiology and various potential risk factors, it is imperative to explore the interplay between autophagy and gut microbiota in MetS more thoroughly. This will facilitate the elucidation of new mechanisms underlying the crosstalk among autophagy, gut microbiota, and MetS, thereby providing new insights into the diagnosis and treatment of MetS.

Fu Loose Tea Administration Ameliorates Obesity in High-Fat Diet-Fed C57BL/6J Mice: A Comparison with Fu Brick Tea and Orlistat

Fu tea is receiving increasing attention for its specific aroma, flavor, and dramatic functional benefits. Herein, we explored the effects and underlying mechanisms of Fu loose tea (FLT), Fu brick tea (FBT), and diet pills (orlistat) on a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. The results indicated that FLT and FBT administration effectively inhibited weight gain, glucose metabolic dysregulation, fat accumulation in organs, hepatic and kidney injury, and oxidative stress induced by HFD. Additionally, FLT and FBT treatments improved the lipid profiles and reduced the production of proinflammatory cytokines by regulating the expression levels of lipid metabolism- and inflammation-related genes. Furthermore, FLT and FBT ameliorated the gut microbiota dysbiosis in HFD-mice in a dose-dependent relationship by increasing the abundance of family Verrucomicrobiaceae and genus Akkermansia and Turicibacter and simultaneously reducing the abundance of family Erysipelotrichaceae and genus Bifidobacterium; in contrast, orlistat did not exert a regulatory effect on gut microbiota similar to FLT and FBT to improve HFD-induced obesity. KEGG analysis of gut microbiota annotation revealed that "metabolism" was the most enriched category. This study further provides a theoretical basis for FLT and FBT to be potential supplements to alleviate diet-induced obesity.

Differential response of blueberry to the application of bacterial inoculants to improve yield, organoleptic qualities and concentration of bioactive compounds

The application of bacterial biofortifiers is an increasingly common technique. In recent years, some strains have been shown to improve the nutraceutical qualities of crops. This work analyses the impact of biofortification with 3 bacterial strains of the genera Rhizobium, Paenibacillus and Lactiplantibacillus on the nutritional characteristics and organic composition of blueberry in Portugal. Paenibacillus sp. VMFR46 treatment showed increase of 71.36 % and 79.88 % in total production. Biofortified treatments were able to increase Brix degree, maturity index (up to 48.05 % for cv. Legacy and up to 26.04 % for cv. Duke) and CIEL*a*b* index respect to uninoculated control. In this way, (poly)phenolic compounds concentration increased in biofortified treatment, and their (poly)phenolic profile was modified, some compounds such as myricetin aglycone or myricetin derivative are exclusive of the fruits from biofortified plants, with increases in (poly)phenolic concentrations related with R. laguerreae PEPV16 or Paenibacillus sp. VMFR46 inoculation in cv. Legacy. These modifications resulted in the improvement of the nutraceutical characteristics of the fruits obtained.