The gut microbiota and obesity: from correlation to causality. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2013;11:639-647. [PMID: 23912213 DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro3089]

Intermittent fasting and high-intensity interval training do not alter gut microbiota composition in adult women with obesity

Obesity is advancing at an accelerated pace, and yet its treatment is still an emerging field. Although studies have demonstrated the role of the microbiota in the pathogenesis of obesity, this is the first study to show the effects of intermittent fasting (IF), combined or not with exercise, and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on the gut microbiota composition in women with obesity. Our hypothesis is that IF combined with HIIT can promote the remodeling of the composition and function of the gut microbiota. Thirty-six women with obesity, aged between 18 and 40 yr, participated in the study. They were randomly divided into three groups: 1) IF associated with HIIT group [IF + exercise group (EX), n = 15]; 2) HIIT group (EX, n = 11); and 3) IF group (IF, n = 10). Interventions took place over 8 wk, and all assessments were performed preintervention and postintervention. The HIIT circuit was performed 3 times/wk, for 25 min/session. The IF protocol was a 5:2 (2 times/wk). Multiplex analysis of inflammatory cytokines, sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, and gas chromatography to measure fecal concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were performed. This study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05237154). Exercise increased fecal acetate concentrations (P = 0.04), but no changes were observed in the composition and functional profile of the microbiota. The interventions did not change the composition of the microbiota, but exercise may play a modulatory role in the production of acetate. This investigation provides clinical insights into the use of IF and HIIT for women with obesity.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first investigation about alternate-day fasting combined with HITT on the gut microbiota of obese women. The study contributes to the advancement of human science involving IF and HIIT, popular strategies for managing obesity. Previous evidence has explored IF in modulating the microbiota in animal models or specific populations and clinical conditions. Despite the subtle outcomes, this study has relevance and originality in the field of gut microbiota knowledge.

Microbiome miracles and their pioneering advances and future frontiers in cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) represent a significant global health challenge, underscoring the need for innovative approaches to prevention and treatment. Recent years have seen a surge in interest in unraveling the complex relationship between the gut microbiome and cardiovascular health. This article delves into current research on the composition, diversity, and impact of the gut microbiome on CVD development. Recent advancements have elucidated the profound influence of the gut microbiome on disease progression, particularly through key mediators like Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) and other microbial metabolites. Understanding these mechanisms reveals promising therapeutic targets, including interventions aimed at modulating the gut microbiome's interaction with the immune system and its contribution to endothelial dysfunction. Harnessing this understanding, personalized medicine strategies tailored to individuals' gut microbiome profiles offer innovative avenues for reducing cardiovascular risk. As research in this field continues to evolve, there is vast potential for transformative advancements in cardiovascular medicine, paving the way for precision prevention and treatment strategies to address this global health challenge.

Functional alterations in overweight/obesity: focusing on the reward and executive control network

Overweight (OW) and obesity (OB) have become prevalent issues in the global public health arena. Serving as a prominent risk factor for various chronic diseases, overweight/obesity not only poses serious threats to people's physical and mental health but also imposes significant medical and economic burdens on society as a whole. In recent years, there has been a growing focus on basic scientific research dedicated to seeking the neural evidence underlying overweight/obesity, aiming to elucidate its causes and effects by revealing functional alterations in brain networks. Among them, dysfunction in the reward network (RN) and executive control network (ECN) during both resting state and task conditions is considered pivotal in neuroscience research on overweight/obesity. Their aberrations contribute to explaining why persons with overweight/obesity exhibit heightened sensitivity to food rewards and eating disinhibition. This review centers on the reward and executive control network by analyzing and organizing the resting-state and task-based fMRI studies of functional brain network alterations in overweight/obesity. Building upon this foundation, the authors further summarize a reward-inhibition dual-system model, with a view to establishing a theoretical framework for future exploration in this field.

SUMOylation at the crossroads of gut health: insights into physiology and pathology

SUMOylation, a post-translational modification involving the covalent attachment of small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) proteins to target substrates, plays a pivotal role at the intersection of gut health and disease, influencing various aspects of intestinal physiology and pathology. This review provides a comprehensive examination of SUMOylation's diverse roles within the gut microenvironment. We examine its critical roles in maintaining epithelial barrier integrity, regulating immune responses, and mediating host-microbe interactions, thereby highlighting the complex molecular mechanisms that underpin gut homeostasis. Furthermore, we explore the impact of SUMOylation dysregulation in various intestinal disorders, including inflammatory bowel diseases and colorectal cancer, highlighting its implications as a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target. By integrating current research findings, this review offers valuable insights into the dynamic interplay between SUMOylation and gut health, paving the way for novel therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring intestinal equilibrium and combating associated pathologies.

Fecal virome transplantation: A promising strategy for the treatment of metabolic diseases

Metabolic diseases are a group of disorders caused by metabolic abnormalities, including obesity, diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and more. Increasing research indicates that, beyond inherent metabolic irregularities, the onset and progression of metabolic diseases are closely linked to alterations in the gut microbiota, particularly gut bacteria. Additionally, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has demonstrated effectiveness in clinically treating metabolic diseases, notably diabetes. Recent attention has also focused on the role of gut viruses in disease onset. This review first introduces the characteristics and influencing factors of gut viruses, then summarizes their potential mechanisms in disease development, highlighting their impact on gut bacteria and regulation of host immunity. We also compare FMT, fecal filtrate transplantation (FFT), washed microbiota transplantation (WMT), and fecal virome transplantation (FVT). Finally, we review the current understanding of gut viruses in metabolic diseases and the application of FVT in treating these conditions. In conclusion, FVT may provide a novel and promising treatment approach for metabolic diseases, warranting further validation through basic and clinical research.

Cereal-Derived Water-Unextractable Arabinoxylans: Structure Feature, Effects on Baking Products and Human Health

Arabinoxylans (AXs) are non-starch polysaccharides with complex structures naturally occurring in grains (i.e., barley, corn, and others), providing many health benefits, especially as prebiotics. AXs can be classified as water-extractable (WEAX) and water-unextractable (WUAX) based on their solubility, with properties influenced by grain sources and extraction methods. Numerous studies show that AXs exert an important health impact, including glucose and lipid metabolism regulation and immune system enhancement, which is induced by the interactions between AXs and the gut microbiota. Recent research underscores the dependence of AX physiological effects on structure, advocating for a deeper understanding of structure-activity relationships. While systematic studies on WEAX are prevalent, knowledge gaps persist regarding WUAX, despite its higher grain abundance. Thus, this review reports recent data on WUAX structural properties (chemical structure, branching, and MW) in cereals under different treatments. It discusses WUAX applications in baking and the benefits deriving from gut fermentation.

A conserved inhibitory interdomain interaction regulates DNA-binding activities of hybrid two-component systems in Bacteroides

Hybrid two-component systems (HTCSs) comprise a major class of transcription regulators of polysaccharide utilization genes in Bacteroides. Distinct from classical two-component systems in which signal transduction is carried out by intermolecular phosphotransfer between a histidine kinase (HK) and a cognate response regulator (RR), HTCSs contain the membrane sensor HK and the RR transcriptional regulator within a single polypeptide chain. Tethering the DNA-binding domain (DBD) of the RR with the dimeric HK domain in an HTCS could potentially promote dimerization of the DBDs and would thus require a mechanism to suppress DNA-binding activity in the absence of stimulus. Analysis of phosphorylation and DNA-binding activities of several HTCSs from Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron revealed a DBD suppression mechanism in which an inhibitory interaction between the DBD and the phosphoryl group-accepting receiver domain (REC) decreases autophosphorylation rates of HTCS-RECs and represses DNA-binding activities in the absence of phosphorylation. Sequence analyses and structure predictions identified a highly conserved sequence motif correlated with a conserved inhibitory domain arrangement of REC and DBD. The presence of the motif, as in most HTCSs, or its absence, in a small subset of HTCSs, is likely predictive of two distinct regulatory mechanisms evolved for different glycans. Substitutions within the conserved motif relieve the inhibitory interaction and result in elevated DNA-binding activities in the absence of phosphorylation. Our data suggest a fundamental regulatory mechanism shared by most HTCSs to suppress DBD activities using a conserved inhibitory interdomain arrangement to overcome the challenge of the fused HK and RR components.

IMPORTANCE

Different dietary and host-derived complex carbohydrates shape the gut microbial community and impact human health. In Bacteroides, the prevalent gut bacteria genus, utilization of these diverse carbohydrates relies on different gene clusters that are under sophisticated control by various signaling systems, including the hybrid two-component systems (HTCSs). We have uncovered a highly conserved regulatory mechanism in which the output DNA-binding activity of HTCSs is suppressed by interdomain interactions in the absence of stimulating phosphorylation. A consensus amino acid motif is found to correlate with the inhibitory interaction surface while deviations from the consensus can lead to constitutive activation. Understanding of such conserved HTCS features will be important to make regulatory predictions for individual systems as well as to engineer novel systems with substitutions in the consensus to explore the glycan regulation landscape in Bacteroides.

Impact of probiotics on weight loss, glucose and lipid metabolism in overweight or obese women: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Our meta-analysis aimed to assess the effectiveness of probiotics in weight loss and glucose and lipid metabolism in overweight or obese women. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were used from inception until March 2024 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCT's) literature. Finally, 11 RCTs were included. Following critical appraisal, a meta-analysis was conducted using the fixed effects model and the random effects model found that probiotic consumption significantly decreased waist circumference (WC) (SMD = -0.39 cm, 95% CI: -0.60, -0.18 cm, P < 0.00001, I2 = 33%), insulin (SMD = -0.45 mcU/ml; 95% CI: -0.72, -0.18 mcU/ml; P = 0.04, I2 = 40%) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels (SMD = -0.51 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.92, -0.11 mmol/L; P = 0.02, I2 = 75%) in overweight or obese women. Moreover, subgroup analyses revealed that the effects of probiotic supplementation were significantly influenced by the intervention duration and diet and/or exercise intervention. This meta-analysis suggested that probiotic supplementation has a moderate and statistically significant effect on weight loss and glucose and lipid metabolism in overweight and obese women.

Unravelling the role of gut microbiota in acute pancreatitis: integrating Mendelian randomization with a nested case-control study

Background

Gut microbiota may influence the development of acute pancreatitis (AP), a serious gastrointestinal disease with high morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to identify a causal link by investigating the relationship between gut microbiota and AP.

Methods

Mendelian randomization (MR) and a nested case-control study were used to explore associations between gut microbiota composition and AP. 16S rRNA sequencing, random forest modelling (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was applied to identify significant gut microbiota and their correlation with hospitalization duration in AP patients.

Results

Bidirectional MR results confirmed a causal link between specific gut microbiota and AP (15 and 8 microbial taxa identified via forward and reverse MR, respectively). The 16S rRNA sequencing analysis demonstrated a pronounced difference in gut microbiota composition between cases and controls. Notably, after a comprehensive evaluation of the results of RF and SVM, Bacteroides plebeius (B. plebeius) was found to play a significant role in influencing the hospital status. Using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the predictive power (0.757) of B. plebeius. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis offered further insight that patients with an elevated abundance of B. plebeius experienced prolonged hospital stays.

Conclusion

Combining MR with nested case-control studies provided a detailed characterization of interactions between gut microbiota and AP. B. plebeius was identified as a significant contributor, suggesting its role as both a precursor and consequence of AP dynamics. The findings highlight the multifactorial nature of AP and its complex relationship with the gut microbiota. This study lays the groundwork for future therapeutic interventions targeting microbial dynamics in AP treatment.

Antidiabetic action of the Chinese formula Shouhuitongbian and the underlying mechanism associated with alteration of gut microbiota

BACKGROUND

The prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have dramatically increased. The intestinal flora and its derived metabolites are demonstrated to play vital roles in the etiology and onset of T2DM. Shouhuitongbian (SHTB) is a traditional Chinese formula to treat constipation. SHTB is composed of seven herbs and components of Colla corii asini (CCA) that are obtained from the hide of Equus asinus L.. Some of herbs in SHTB such as Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f., Cassia obtusifolia L., fruits of Lycium barbarum L., and Citrus aurantium L. have shown to improve insulin resistance (IR) and T2DM in early reports. We hypothesized that SHTB composed of these herbs has antidiabetic effects. The antidiabetic efficacy and mechanism of action of SHTB have not been previously reported.

HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE

To demonstrate the antidiabetic effect and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of SHTB from the perspective of gut microbiota.

STUDY DESIGN

The main compounds were identified and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-mass spectrometry analysis. High fat diet (HFD)-fed mice and db/db mice were used to assess the antidiabetic effects and the mechanism of SHTB. The underlying mechanisms were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), western blot analysis, quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis, 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing, and targeted metabolome analysis.

METHODS

HFD-fed mice and db/db mice were orally treated with the standard positive drug metformin (100 mg/kg/d) and with SHTB (200 and 100 mg/kg/d), which was chemically characterized according to the European Medicine Agency (EMA) guidelines. The beneficial effects of SHTB were studied by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), insulin tolerance test (ITT), total cholesterol (T-CHO), triglyceride (TG), and inflammation. Subsequently, 16S rDNA-based high-throughput pyrosequencing and GC-MS-based targeted metabolomics profiling were performed to analyze the gut microbiota composition and metabolites profile in the gut, respectively. Moreover, the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) / insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) / phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) / protein kinase B (AKT) pathway was evaluated via qPCR and western blot.

RESULTS

Chemically characterized SHTB, in which six markers were quantified, effectively alleviated glucose intolerance and IR, ameliorated lipid metabolism dysfunction, and reduced inflammation. In addition, 16S rDNA sequencing found that SHTB reshaped the composition of intestinal flora, as indicated by the enrichment of Akkermansia and Parabacteroides in both HFD-fed and db/db mice. Moreover, SHTB enhanced the intestinal production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and branched short-chain fatty acids (BSCFAs), and reduced the levels of the fecal and circulating branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs). The IRS-1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was upregulated after treatment with SHTB.

CONCLUSION

Orally administration of SHTB effectively improved IR and reduced hyperglycemia in mice. Treatment with SHTB regulated the gut BCAAs-mTORC1/IRS-1/PI3K/AKT axis by enhancing the BCAAs catabolism in the gut, which attenuated the deleterious effect of BCAAs on the IRS-1 signaling pathway.

Gut microbiota dysbiosis contributes to depression-like behaviors via hippocampal NLRP3-mediated neuroinflammation in a postpartum depression mouse model

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a severe mental disorder that affects approximately 10---20% of women after childbirth. The precise mechanism underlying PPD pathogenesis remains elusive, thus limiting the development of therapeutics. Gut microbiota dysbiosis is considered to contribute to major depressive disorder. However, the associations between gut microbiota and PPD remain unanswered. Here, we established a mouse PPD model by sudden ovarian steroid withdrawal after hormone-simulated pseudopregnancy-human (HSP-H) in ovariectomy (OVX) mouse. Ovarian hormone withdrawal induced depression-like and anxiety-like behaviors and an altered gut microbiota composition. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from PPD mice to antibiotic cocktail-treated mice induced depression-like and anxiety-like behaviors and neuropathological changes in the hippocampus of the recipient mice. FMT from healthy mice to PPD mice attenuated the depression-like and anxiety-like behaviors as well as the inflammation mediated by the NOD-like receptor protein (NLRP)-3/caspase-1 signaling pathway both in the gut and the hippocampus, increased fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) levels and alleviated gut dysbiosis with increased SCFA-producing bacteria and reduced Akkermansia in the PPD mice. Also, downregulation of NLRP3 in the hippocampus mitigated depression-like behaviors in PPD mice and overexpression of NLRP3 in the hippocampal dentate gyrus induced depression-like behaviors in naïve female mice. Intriguingly, FMT from healthy mice failed to alleviate depression-like behaviors in PPD mice with NLRP3 overexpression in the hippocampus. Our results highlighted the NLRP3 inflammasome as a key component within the microbiota-gut-brain axis, suggesting that targeting the gut microbiota may be a therapeutic strategy for PPD.

Longitudinal Pilot Evaluation of the Gut Microbiota Comparing Patients With and Without Chronic Kidney Disease

OBJECTIVE

The gut microbiota contributes to metabolic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, but is poorly characterized in chronic kidney disease (CKD).

DESIGN AND METHODS

We enrolled 24 adults within household pairs, in which at least one member had self-reported kidney disease, diabetes, or hypertension. CKD was classified based on estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 or urine-albumin-to-creatinine ratio of ≥ 30 mg/g. Participants collected stool and dietary recalls seasonally over a year. Gut microbiota was characterized using 16s rRNA and metagenomic sequencing.

RESULTS

Ten participants had CKD (42%) with a median (interquartile range) estimated glomerular filtration rate of 49 (44, 54) mL/min/1.73 m2. By 16s rRNA sequencing, there was moderate to high intraclass correlation (ICC = 0.63) for seasonal alpha diversity (Shannon index) within individuals and modest differences by season (P < .01). ICC was lower with metagenomics, which has resolution at the species level (ICC = 0.26). There were no differences in alpha or beta diversity by CKD with either method. Among 79 genera, Frisingicoccus, Tuzzerella, Faecalitalea, and Lachnoclostridium had lower abundance in CKD, while Collinsella, Lachnospiraceae_ND3007, Veillonella, and Erysipelotrichaceae_UCG_003 were more abundant in CKD (each nominal P < .05) using 16s rRNA sequencing. Higher Collinsella and Veillonella and lower Lachnoclostridium in CKD were also identified by metagenomics. By metagenomics, Coprococcus catus and Bacteroides stercoris were more and less abundant in CKD, respectively, at false discovery rate corrected P = .02.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified candidate taxa in the gut microbiota associated with CKD. High ICC in individuals with modest seasonal impacts implies that follow-up studies may use less frequent sampling.

Fecal microbiota transplantation and next-generation therapies: A review on targeting dysbiosis in metabolic disorders and beyond

The human microbiome, particularly the gut microbiome, has emerged as a central determinant of health and disease. Dysbiosis, an imbalance in the microbial composition of the gut, is associated with a variety of metabolic and other diseases, highlighting the potential for microbiota-targeted treatments. Fecal microbiota transplantation has received considerable attention as a promising therapy to modulate the gut microbiome and restore microbial homeostasis. However, challenges remain, including standardization, safety, and long-term efficacy. This review summarizes current knowledge on fecal microbiota transplantation and describes the next generation therapies targeting microbiome. This review looked at the mechanistic understanding of fecal microbiota transplantation and alternative strategies, elucidating their potential role in improving dysbiosis-associated metabolic disorders, such as obesity, and type 2 diabetes and others. Additionally, this review discussed the growing application of therapies targeting the gut microbiome. Insights from clinical trials, preclinical studies, and emerging technologies provide a comprehensive overview of the evolving landscape of microbiome-based interventions. Through a critical assessment of current advances and prospects, this review aims to highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting gut microbiome and pave the way for innovative approaches in precision medicine and personalized treatments.

Tlr9 deficiency in B cells leads to obesity by promoting inflammation and gut dysbiosis

Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) recognizes bacterial, viral and self DNA and play an important role in immunity and inflammation. However, the role of TLR9 in obesity is less well-studied. Here, we generate B-cell-specific Tlr9-deficient (Tlr9fl/fl/Cd19Cre+/-, KO) B6 mice and model obesity using a high-fat diet. Compared with control mice, B-cell-specific-Tlr9-deficient mice exhibited increased fat tissue inflammation, weight gain, and impaired glucose and insulin tolerance. Furthermore, the frequencies of IL-10-producing-B cells and marginal zone B cells were reduced, and those of follicular and germinal center B cells were increased. This was associated with increased frequencies of IFNγ-producing-T cells and increased follicular helper cells. In addition, gut microbiota from the KO mice induced a pro-inflammatory state leading to immunological and metabolic dysregulation when transferred to germ-free mice. Using 16 S rRNA gene sequencing, we identify altered gut microbial communities including reduced Lachnospiraceae, which may play a role in altered metabolism in KO mice. We identify an important network involving Tlr9, Irf4 and Il-10 interconnecting metabolic homeostasis, with the function of B and T cells, and gut microbiota in obesity.

Correlation between intestinal flora and GLP-1 receptor agonist dulaglutide in type 2 diabetes mellitus treatment-A preliminary longitudinal study

GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) are presently used as the first-line drugs for the clinical treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It can regulate blood glucose by stimulating insulin secretion and lowering glucagon levels. We used 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to detect structural changes in the composition of the intestinal flora of newly diagnosed T2DM after 1 and 48 weeks of dulaglutide administration. Our research found no significant changes in the intestinal flora after the administration of dulaglutide for 1 week to subjects with newly diagnosed T2DM. Nevertheless, after 48 weeks of dulaglutide administration, the composition of the intestinal flora changed significantly, with a significant reduction in the abundance of intestinal flora. Furthermore, we found that fasting glucose levels, fasting c-peptide levels, HbA1c levels, and BMI are also closely associated with intestinal flora. This reveals that intestinal flora may be one of the mechanisms by which dulaglutide treats T2DM.

Efficacy of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and its underlying mechanism in preventing bisphenol-A-induced metabolic disorders in mice

To investigate the efficacy of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and its underlying mechanism in preventing bisphenol-A-induced metabolic disorders, in this study, a mice model of metabolic disorders induced by BPA was developed to investigate the efficacy and mechanism of EGCG using microbiomes and metabolomics. The results showed that EGCG reduced body weight, liver weight ratio, and triglyceride and total cholesterol levels in mice by decreasing the mRNA expression of genes related to fatty acid synthesis (Elov16) and cholesterol synthesis (CYP4A14) and increasing the mRNA expression of genes related to fatty acid oxidation (Lss) and cholesterol metabolism (Cyp7a1). In addition, EGCG normalized BPA-induced intestinal microbial dysbiosis. Metabolic pathway analysis showed that low-dose EGCG was more effective than high-dose EGCG at affecting the biosynthesis of L-cysteine, glycerophosphorylcholine, and palmitoleic acid. These results provide specific data and a theoretical basis for the risk assessment of BPA and the utilization of EGCG.

Tolypocladium sinense Mycelium Polysaccharide Alleviates Obesity, Lipid Metabolism Disorder, and Inflammation Caused by High Fat Diet via Improving Intestinal Barrier and Modulating Gut Microbiota

SCOPE

Tolypocladium sinense is a fungus isolated from Cordyceps. Cordyceps has some medicinal value and is also a daily health care product. This study explores the preventive effects of T. sinense mycelium polysaccharide (TSMP) on high-fat diet-induced obesity and chronic inflammation in mice.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Here, the study establishes an obese mouse model induced by high-fat diet. In this study, the mice are administered TSMP daily basis to evaluate its effect on alleviating obesity. The results show that TSMP can significantly inhibit obesity and alleviate dyslipidemia by regulating the expression of lipid metabolism-related genes such as liver kinase B1 (LKB1), phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (pAMPK), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α (PPARα), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) in the liver. TSMP can increase the protein expression of zona occludens-1 (ZO-1), Occludin, and Claudin-1 in the colon, improve the intestinal barrier dysfunction, and reduce the level of serum LPS, thereby reducing the inflammatory response. 16S rDNA sequencing shows that TSMP alters the intestinal microbiota by increasing the relative abundance of Akkermansia, Lactobacillus, and Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group, while decreasing the relative abundance of Faecalibaculum.

CONCLUSION

The findings show that TSMP can inhibit obesity and alleviates obesity-related lipid metabolism disorders, inflammatory responses, and oxidative stress by modulating the gut microbiota and improving intestinal barrier.

Fecal microbiota transplantation ameliorates abdominal obesity through inhibiting microbiota-mediated intestinal barrier damage and inflammation in mice

Abdominal obesity (AO), characterized by the excessive abdominal fat accumulation, has emerged as a significant public health concern due to its metabolic complications and escalating prevalence worldwide, posing a more pronounced threat to human health than general obesity. While certain studies have indicated that intestinal flora contributed to diet-induced general obesity, the precise involvement of gut microbiota in the development of AO, specifically the accumulation of abdominal fat, remains inadequately explored. In this study, the 16 S rDNA sequencing was employed to analyze gut flora alterations, and the intestinal microbiota dysbiosis characterized by a vanishing decline of Akkermansia was found in the AO group. Along with notable gut microbiota changes, the intestinal mucosal barrier damage and metabolic inflammation were detected, which collectively promoted metabolic dysregulation in AO. Furthermore, the metabolic inflammation and AO were ameliorated after the intestinal microbiota depletion with antibiotics (ABX) drinking, underscoring a significant involvement of gut microbiota dysbiosis in the progression of AO. More importantly, our findings demonstrated that the transplantation of healthy intestinal flora successfully reversed the gut microbiota dysbiosis, particularly the decline of Akkermansia in the AO group. The gut flora reshaping has led to the repair of gut barrier damage and mitigation of metabolic inflammation, which ultimately ameliorated abdominal fat deposition. Our study established the role of interactions between gut flora, mucus barrier, and metabolic inflammation in the development of AO, thereby offering a theoretical foundation for the clinical application of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) as a treatment for AO.

The Effect of Enteric-Derived Lipopolysaccharides on Obesity

Endotoxin is a general term for toxic substances in Gram-negative bacteria, whose damaging effects are mainly derived from the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in the cell walls of Gram-negative bacteria, and is a strong pyrogen. Obesity is a chronic, low-grade inflammatory condition, and LPS are thought to trigger and exacerbate it. The gut flora is the largest source of LPS in the body, and it is increasingly believed that altered intestinal microorganisms can play an essential role in the pathology of different diseases. Today, the complex axis linking gut flora to inflammatory states and adiposity has not been well elucidated. This review summarises the evidence for an interconnection between LPS, obesity, and gut flora, further expanding our understanding of LPS as a mediator of low-grade inflammatory disease and contributing to lessening the effects of obesity and related metabolic disorders. As well as providing targets associated with LPS, obesity, and gut flora, it is hoped that interventions that combine targets with gut flora address the individual differences in gut flora treatment.

Interaction between Dietary Lactoferrin and Gut Microbiota in Host Health

The gut microbiota are known to play an important role in host health and disease. Alterations in the gut microbiota composition can disrupt the stability of the gut ecosystem, which may result in noncommunicable chronic diseases (NCCDs). Remodeling the gut microbiota through personalized nutrition is a novel therapeutic avenue for both disease control and prevention. However, whether there are commonly used gut microbiota-targeted diets and how gut microbiota-diet interactions combat NCCDs and improve health remain questions to be addressed. Lactoferrin (LF), which is broadly used in dietary supplements, acts not only as an antimicrobial in the defense against enteropathogenic bacteria but also as a prebiotic to propagate certain probiotics. Thus, LF-induced gut microbiota alterations can be harnessed to induce changes in host physiology, and the underpinnings of their relationships and mechanisms are beginning to unravel in studies involving humans and animal models.

Nanoquercetin and Extracellular Vesicles as Potential Anticancer Therapeutics in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Despite world-class sophisticated technologies, robotics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning approaches, cancer-associated mortalities and morbidities have shown continuous increments posing a healthcare burden. Drug-based interventions were associated with systemic toxicities and several limitations. Natural bioactive compounds derived nanoformulations, especially nanoquercetin (nQ), are alternative options to overcome drug-associated limitations. Moreover, the EVs-based cargo targeted delivery of nQ can have enormous potential in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). EVs-based nQ delivery synergistically regulates and dysregulates several pathways, including NF-κB, p53, JAK/STAT, MAPK, Wnt/β-catenin, and PI3K/AKT, along with PBX3/ERK1/2/CDK2, and miRNAs intonation. Furthermore, discoveries on possible checkpoints of anticancer signaling pathways were studied, which might lead to the development of modified EVs infused with nQ for the development of innovative treatments for HCC. In this work, we abridged the control of such signaling systems using a synergetic strategy with EVs and nQ. The governing roles of extracellular vesicles controlling the expression of miRNAs were investigated, particularly in relation to HCC.

Multiomics analysis investigating the impact of a high-fat diet in female Sprague-Dawley rats: alterations in plasma, intestinal metabolism, and microbial composition

Introduction

With improvements in living conditions, modern individuals exhibit a pronounced inclination towards a high-fat diet, largely because of its distinctive gustatory appeal. However, the association between high-fat diets and metabolic complications has largely been ignored, and metabolic diseases such as obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease now constitute a major public health concern. Because high-fat diets increase the risk of metabolic diseases, a thorough investigation into the impact of high-fat diets on gut microbiota and metabolism is required.

Methods

We utilize 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics analysis to demonstrate that SD rats fed a high-fat diet exhibited marked alterations in gut microbiota and plasma, intestinal metabolism.

Results

Changes in gut microbiota included a decreased abundance at phylum level for Verrucomicrobiota, and a decreased abundance at genus level for Akkermansia, Ralstonia, Bacteroides, and Faecalibacterium. Additionally, significant changes were observed in both intestinal and plasma metabolite levels, including an upregulation of bile acid metabolism, an upregulation of glucose-lipid metabolism, and increased levels of metabolites such as norlithocholic acid, cholic acid, D-fructose, D-mannose, fructose lactate, and glycerophosphocholine. We also investigated the correlations between microbial communities and metabolites, revealing a significant negative correlation between Akkermansia bacteria and cholic acid.

Discussion

Overall, our findings shed light on the relationship between symbiotic bacteria associated with high-fat diets and metabolic biomarkers, and they provide insights for identifying novel therapeutic approaches to mitigate disease risks associated with a high-fat diet.

Lower Diet Quality Associated with Subclinical Gastrointestinal Inflammation in Healthy United States Adults

BACKGROUND

Higher diet quality has been associated with lower risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease, but associations between diet and gastrointestinal (GI) inflammation in healthy adults prior to disease onset are understudied.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this project was to examine associations between reported dietary intake and markers of GI inflammation in a healthy adult human cohort.

METHODS

In a cross-sectional observational trial of 358 healthy adults, participants completed ≤3 unannounced 24-h dietary recalls using the Automated Self-Administered Dietary Assessment Tool and a Block 2014 Food Frequency Questionnaire to assess recent and habitual intake, respectively. Those who provided a stool sample were included in this analysis. Inflammation markers from stool, including calprotectin, neopterin, and myeloperoxidase, were measured by ELISA along with LPS-binding protein from plasma.

RESULTS

Recent and habitual fiber intake was negatively correlated with fecal calprotectin concentrations (n = 295, P = 0.011, 0.009). Habitual soluble fiber intake was also negatively correlated with calprotectin (P = 0.01). Recent and habitual legume and vegetable intake was negatively correlated with calprotectin (P = 0.013, 0.026, 0.01, 0.009). We observed an inverse correlation between recent Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores and calprotectin concentrations (n = 295, P = 0.026). Dietary Inflammatory Index scores were calculated and positively correlated with neopterin for recent intake (n = 289, P = 0.015). When participants with clinically elevated calprotectin were excluded, recent and habitual fiber, legume, vegetable, and fruit intake were negatively correlated with calprotectin (n = 253, P = 0.00001, 0.0002, 0.045, 0.001, 0.009, 0.001, 0.004, 0.014). Recent total HEI score was inversely correlated with subclinical calprotectin (P = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher diet quality may be protective against GI inflammation even in healthy adults. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02367287.

Understanding the gastrointestinal tract in obesity: From gut motility patterns to enzyme secretion

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The pathophysiology of obesity has been the product of extensive research, revealing multiple interconnected mechanisms contributing to body weight regulation. The regulation of energy balance involves an intricate network, including the gut-neuroendocrine interplay. As a consequence, research on the gut-brain-microbiota axis in obesity has grown extensively. The physiology of the gastrointestinal tract, far from being underexplored, has significant implications for the development of specific complications in people living with obesity across the fields of gastroenterology, nutrition, and pharmacology. Clinical research indicates higher fasting bile acids serum levels, and blunted postprandial increases in bilious secretions in people living with obesity. Findings are less straightforward for the impact of obesity on gastric emptying with various studies reporting accelerated, normal, or delayed gastric emptying rates. Conversely, the effect of obesity on gastrointestinal pH, gastrointestinal transit, and gastric and pancreatic enzyme secretion is largely unknown. In this review, we explore the current evidence on the gastrointestinal physiology of obesity.

Very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD): a therapeutic nutritional tool for acne?

BACKGROUND

Acne, a chronic inflammatory disease impacting the pilosebaceous unit, is influenced significantly by inflammation and oxidative stress, and is commonly associated with obesity. Similarly, obesity is also associated with increased inflammation and oxidation. The role of diet in acne remains inconclusive, but the very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD), known for weight loss and generating anti-inflammatory ketone bodies, presents promising potential. Despite this, the effects of VLCKD on acne remain underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a 45-day active phase of VLCKD in reducing the clinical severity of acne in young women with treatment-naïve moderate acne and grade I obesity.

METHODS

Thirty-one women with treatment-naïve moderate acne, grade I obesity (BMI 30.03-34.65 kg/m2), aged 18-30 years, meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria, and consenting to adhere to VLCKD were recruited. Baseline and post-intervention assessments included anthropometric measurements, body composition, phase angle (PhA), trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) levels, and reactive oxygen metabolite derivatives (dROMs) as markers of inflammation, dysbiosis, and oxidative stress, respectively. A comprehensive dermatological examination, incorporating the Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), was conducted for all women.

RESULTS

VLCKD resulted in general improvements in anthropometric and body composition parameters. Significantly, there were significant reductions in both the GAGS score (Δ%: - 31.46 ± 9.53, p < 0.001) and the DLQI score (Δ%: - 45.44 ± 24.02, p < 0.001) after the intervention. These improvements coincided with significant decreases in TMAO (p < 0.001) and dROMs (p < 0.001) levels and a significant increase in PhA (Δ%: + 8.60 ± 7.40, p < 0.001). Changes in the GAGS score positively correlated with changes in dROMs (p < 0.001) and negatively with PhA (p < 0.001) even after adjusting for Δ% FM. Changes in the DLQI score positively correlated with changes in dROMs (p < 0.001) and negatively with PhA (p < 0.001) even after adjustment for Δ% FM.

CONCLUSION

Given the side effects of drugs used for acne, there is an increasing need for safe, tolerable, and low-cost treatments that can be used for acne disease. The 45-day active phase of VLCKD demonstrated notable improvements in acne severity, and these improvements seemed to be attributable to the known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of VLCKD.

A Combined Measure of the Triglyceride Glucose Index and Trimethylamine N-Oxide in Risk Stratification of ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients with High-Risk Plaque Features Defined by Optical Coherence Tomography: A Substudy of the OCTAMI Registry Study

Background and Aim

An elevated triglyceride-glucose (TyG) level is associated with increased risk of mortality in patients with CAD. Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) has mechanistic links to atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD) pathogenesis and is correlated with adverse outcomes. However, the incremental prognostic value of TMAO and TyG in the cohort of optical coherence tomography (OCT)-defined high-risk ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients is unknown.

Methods

We studied 274 consecutive aged ≥18 years patients with evidence of STEMI and detected on pre-intervention OCT imaging of culprit lesions between March 2017 and March 2019.

Outcomes

There were 22 (22.68%), 27 (27.84%), 26 (26.80%), and 22 (22.68%) patients in groups A-D, respectively. The baseline characteristics according to the level of TMAO and TyG showed that patients with higher level in both indicators were more likely to have higher triglycerides (p < 0.001), fasting glucose (p < 0.001) and higher incidence of diabetes (p = 0.008). The group with TMAO > median and TyG ≤ median was associated with higher rates of MACEs significantly (p = 0.009) in fully adjusted analyses. During a median follow-up of 2.027 years, 20 (20.6%) patients experienced MACEs. To evaluate the diagnostic value of the TyG index combined with TMAO, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for predicting MACEs after full adjustment was 0.815 (95% confidence interval, 0.723-0.887; sensitivity, 85.00%; specificity, 72.73%; cut-off level, 0.577). Among the group of patients with TMAO > median and TyG ≤ median, there was a significantly higher incidence of MACEs (p=0.033). A similar tendency was found in the cohort with hyperlipidemia (p=0.016) and diabetes mellitus (p=0.036).

Conclusion

This study demonstrated the usefulness of combined measures of the TyG index and TMAO in enhancing risk stratification in STEMI patients with OCT-defined high-risk plaque characteristics.

Trial Registration

This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT03593928.

Novel Human Milk Fat Substitutes Based on Medium- and Long-Chain Triacylglycerol Regulate Thermogenesis, Lipid Metabolism, and Gut Microbiota Diversity in C57BL/6J Mice

Human milk is naturally rich in medium- and long-chain triacylglycerols (MLCT), accounting for approximately 30% of the total fat. However, infant formula fat is prepared using a physical blend of vegetable oils, which rarely contains MLCT, similar to human milk. The differences in MLCT between human milk and infant formulas may cause different lipid metabolisms and physiological effects on infants, which are unknown. This study aimed to analyze the metabolic characteristics of formula lipid containing novel human milk fat substitutes based on MLCT (FL-MLCT) and compare their effects with those of the physical blend of vegetable oils (FL-PB) on lipid metabolism and gut microbiota in mice. Compared with the FL-PB group, the FL-MLCT group showed increased energy expenditure, decreased serum triacylglycerol level, and significantly lower aspartate aminotransferase level, epididymal and perirenal fat weight, and adipocyte size. Moreover, the abundances of Firmicutes/Bacteroidota, Actinobacteriota, and Desulfovibrionaceae were significantly decreased in the FL-MLCT group. Novel human milk fat substitutes MLCT could inhibit visceral fat accumulation, improve liver function, and modulate the mice gut microbiota composition, which may contribute to controlling obesity.

The potential of short-chain fatty acid epigenetic regulation in chronic low-grade inflammation and obesity

Obesity and chronic low-grade inflammation, often occurring together, significantly contribute to severe metabolic and inflammatory conditions like type 2 diabetes (T2D), cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer. A key player is elevated levels of gut dysbiosis-associated lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which disrupts metabolic and immune signaling leading to metabolic endotoxemia, while short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) beneficially regulate these processes during homeostasis. SCFAs not only safeguard the gut barrier but also exert metabolic and immunomodulatory effects via G protein-coupled receptor binding and epigenetic regulation. SCFAs are emerging as potential agents to counteract dysbiosis-induced epigenetic changes, specifically targeting metabolic and inflammatory genes through DNA methylation, histone acetylation, microRNAs (miRNAs), and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). To assess whether SCFAs can effectively interrupt the detrimental cascade of obesity and inflammation, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current evidence for their clinical application. The review emphasizes factors influencing SCFA production, the intricate connections between metabolism, the immune system, and the gut microbiome, and the epigenetic mechanisms regulated by SCFAs that impact metabolism and the immune system.

Gut microbiota and therapy for obesity and type 2 diabetes

There has been a major increase in Type 2 diabetes and obesity in many countries, and this will lead to a global public health crisis, which not only impacts on the quality of life of individuals well but also places a substantial burden on healthcare systems and economies. Obesity is linked to not only to type 2 diabetes but also cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, and certain cancers, also resulting in increased medical costs and diminished quality of life. A number of studies have linked changes in gut in obesity development. Dysbiosis, a deleterious change in gut microbiota composition, leads to altered intestinal permeability, associated with obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Many factors affect the homeostasis of gut microbiota, including diet, genetics, circadian rhythms, medication, probiotics, and antibiotics. In addition, bariatric surgery induces changes in gut microbiota that contributes to the metabolic benefits observed post-surgery. Current obesity management strategies encompass dietary interventions, exercise, pharmacotherapy, and bariatric surgery, with emerging treatments including microbiota-altering approaches showing promising efficacy. While pharmacotherapy has demonstrated significant advancements in recent years, bariatric surgery remains one of the most effective treatments for sustainable weight loss. However, access to this is generally limited to those living with severe obesity. This underscores the need for non-surgical interventions, particularly for adolescents and mildly obese patients. In this comprehensive review, we assess longitudinal alterations in gut microbiota composition and functionality resulting from the two currently most effective anti-obesity treatments: pharmacotherapy and bariatric surgery. Additionally, we highlight the functions of gut microbiota, focusing on specific bacteria, their metabolites, and strategies for modulating gut microbiota to prevent and treat obesity. This review aims to provide insights into the evolving landscape of obesity management and the potential of microbiota-based approaches in addressing this pressing global health challenge.

Understanding the role of ursodeoxycholic acid and gut microbiome in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: current evidence and perspectives

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease, resulting in a huge medical burden worldwide. Accumulating evidence suggests that the gut microbiome and bile acids play pivotal roles during the development of NAFLD. Patients with NAFLD exhibit unique signatures of the intestinal microbiome marked by the priority of Gram-negative bacteria, decreased ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B), and increased Prevotella and Lachnospiraceae. The intestinal microbiota is involved in the metabolism of bile acids. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is a key determinant in maintaining the dynamic communication between the host and gut microbiota. It generally shows surprising therapeutic potential in NAFLD with several mechanisms, such as improving cellular autophagy, apoptosis, and mitochondrial functions. This action is based on its direct or indirect effect, targeting the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and various other nuclear receptors. This review aims to discuss the current studies on the involvement of the microbiome-UDCA interface in NAFLD therapy and provide prospective insights into future preventative and therapeutic approaches for NAFLD.

Foodborne Carbon Dots Aggravate High-Fat-Diet-Induced Glucose Homeostasis Imbalance by Disrupting the Gut-Liver Axis

Foodborne carbon dots (CDs) are generally produced during cooking and exist in food items. Generally, CDs are regarded as nontoxic materials, but several studies have gradually confirmed the cytotoxicity of CDs, such as oxidative stress, reduced cellular activity, apoptosis, etc. However, studies focusing on the health effects of long-term intake of food-borne CDs are scarce, especially in populations susceptible to metabolic disease. In this study, we reported that CDs in self-brewing beer had no effect on glucose metabolism in CHOW-fed mice but exacerbated high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced glucose metabolism disorders via the gut-liver axis. Chronic exposure to foodborne CDs increased fasting glucose levels and exacerbated liver and intestinal barrier damage in HFD-fed mice. The 16s rRNA sequencing analysis revealed that CDs significantly altered the gut microbiota composition and promoted lipopolysaccharide (LPS) synthesis-related KEGG pathways (superpathway of (Kdo)2-lipid A, Kdo transfer to lipid IVA Ill (Chlamydia), lipid IVA biosynthesis, and so on) in HFD-fed mice. Mechanically, CD exposure increased the abundance of Gram-negative bacteria (Proteobacteria and Desulfovibrionaceae), thus producing excessive endotoxin-LPS, and then LPS was transferred by the blood circulation to the liver due to the damaged intestinal barrier. In the liver, LPS promoted TLR4/NF-κB/P38 MAPK signaling, thus enhancing systemic inflammation and exacerbating HFD-induced insulin resistance. However, pretreating mice with antibiotics eliminated these effects, indicating a key role for gut microbiota in CDs exacerbating glucose metabolism disorders in HFD-fed mice. The finding herein provides new insight into the potential health risk of foodborne nanoparticles in susceptible populations by disturbing the gut-liver axis.

Facial Physiological Characteristics and Skin Microbiomes Changes are Associated with Body Mass Index (BMI)

Background

Overweight and obesity have become public health problems worldwide. An increasing number of research works are focusing on skin physiology and the manifestations of obesity-associated skin diseases, but little is known about the correlations between body mass index (BMI), facial skin physiological parameters, and the facial skin microbiome in healthy women.

Objective

To investigate the correlations between BMI, facial skin physiological parameters and facial bacteria and fungi in 198 women aged 18 to 35 years in Shanghai.

Methods

According to the international BMI standard and Chinese reference standard, subjects were divided into three groups, "lean" B1, "normal" B2 and "overweight" B3, and the physiological parameters of facial skin were measured by non-invasive instrumental methods, and the skin microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA and ITS high-throughput sequencing.

Results

Compared with the skin physiological parameters of the normal group, those of the overweight group exhibited a significant increase in trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), which indicated that the skin barrier was impaired. The skin haemoglobin content was significantly increased, and skin surface pH was significant decreased in those with a high BMI. Furthermore, α-diversity, analysed using the Shannon, Chao, Sobs, and Ace indexes, was increased in the overweight group, suggesting that the diversity and species abundance of facial bacterial and fungal microbiota were also increased. Moreover, the overweight group had higher abundances of Streptococcus, Corynebacterium, Malassezia, and Candida. Notably, skin surface pH was significantly and negatively correlated with the relative abundances of Malassezia, Candida, and Cladosporium. Besides, the abundance of Malassezia was positively associated with the abundances of Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium.

Conclusion

These results indicate that BMI is associated with differences in the biophysical properties and microbiome of the facial skin. A high BMI affects the integrity of skin barrier and changes the skin flora diversity and species composition.

Serine protease inhibitor from the muscle larval Trichinella spiralis ameliorates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice via anti-inflammatory properties and gut-liver crosstalk

Trichinella spiralis is recognized for its ability to regulate host immune responses. The serine protease inhibitor of T. spiralis (Ts-SPI) participates in T. spiralis-mediated immunoregulatory effects. Studies have shown that helminth therapy exhibits therapeutic effects on metabolic diseases. In addition, we previously found that T. spiralis-derived crude antigens could alleviate diet-induced obesity. Thus, Ts-SPI was hypothesized to alleviate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Herein, recombinant Ts-SPI (rTs-SPI) was prepared from the muscle larvae T. spiralis. The relative molecular mass of rTs-SPI was approximately 35,000 Da, and western blot analysis indicated good immunoreactivity. rTs-SPI ameliorated hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and pyroptosis in NAFLD mice, which validated the hypothesis. rTs-SPI also reduced macrophage infiltration, significantly expanded Foxp3+ Treg population, and inactivated TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling in the liver. Furthermore, rTs-SPI treatment significantly shifted the gut microbiome structure, with a remarkable increase in beneficial bacteria and reduction in harmful bacteria to improve gut barrier integrity. Finally, Abx-treated mice and FMT confirmed that gut-liver crosstalk contributed to NAFLD improvement after rTs-SPI treatment. Taken together, Taken together, these findings suggest that rTs-SPI exerts therapeutic effects in NAFLD via anti-inflammatory activity and gut-liver crosstalk.

Elemental iron protects gut microbiota against oxygen-induced dysbiosis

Gut dysbiosis induced by oxygen and reactive oxygen species may be related to the development of inflammation, resulting in metabolic syndrome and associated-conditions in the gut. Here we show that elemental iron can serve as an antioxidant and reverse the oxygen-induced dysbiosis. Fecal samples from three healthy donors were fermented with elemental iron and/or oxygen. 16S rRNA analysis revealed that elemental iron reversed the oxygen-induced disruption of Shannon index diversity of the gut microbiota.The bacteria lacking enzymatic antioxidant systems also increased after iron treatment. Inter-individual differences, which corresponded to iron oxidation patterns, were observed for the tested donors. Gut bacteria responding to oxygen and iron treatments were identified as guilds, among which, Escherichia-Shigella was promoted by oxygen and depressed by elemental iron, while changes in bacteria such as Bifidobacterium, Blautia, Eubacterium, Ruminococcaceae, Flavonifractor, Oscillibacter, and Lachnospiraceae were reversed by elemental iron after oxygen treatment. Short-chain fatty acid production was inhibited by oxygen and this effect was partially reversed by elemental iron. These results suggested that elemental iron can regulate the oxygen/ROS state and protect the gut microbiota from oxidative stress.

High-Abundance Protein-Guided Hybrid Spectral Library for Data-Independent Acquisition Metaproteomics

Metaproteomics offers a direct avenue to identify microbial proteins in microbiota, enabling the compositional and functional characterization of microbiota. Due to the complexity and heterogeneity of microbial communities, in-depth and accurate metaproteomics faces tremendous limitations. One challenge in metaproteomics is the construction of a suitable protein sequence database to interpret the highly complex metaproteomic data, especially in the absence of metagenomic sequencing data. Herein, we present a high-abundance protein-guided hybrid spectral library strategy for in-depth data independent acquisition (DIA) metaproteomic analysis (HAPs-hyblibDIA). A dedicated high-abundance protein database of gut microbial species is constructed and used to mine the taxonomic information on microbiota samples. Then, a sample-specific protein sequence database is built based on the taxonomic information using Uniprot protein sequence for subsequent analysis of the DIA data using hybrid spectral library-based DIA analysis. We evaluated the accuracy and sensitivity of the method using synthetic microbial community samples and human gut microbiome samples. It was demonstrated that the strategy can successfully identify taxonomic compositions of microbiota samples and that the peptides identified by HAPs-hyblibDIA overlapped greatly with the peptides identified using a metagenomic sequencing-derived database. At the peptide and species level, our results can serve as a complement to the results obtained using a metagenomic sequencing-derived database. Furthermore, we validated the applicability of the HAPs-hyblibDIA strategy in a cohort of human gut microbiota samples of colorectal cancer patients and controls, highlighting its usability in biomedical research.

A polysaccharide from salviae miltiorrhizae radix inhibits weight gain of mice with high-fat diet via modulating intestinal bacteria

BACKGROUND

Obesity, a global chronic disease, has been recognized as a severe risk to health. In our study, a novel polysaccharide named ARS was isolated and purified from aerial part of salviae miltiorrhizae radix. Our aim is to investigate the weight-reducing effect of a polysaccharide from salviae miltiorrhizae radix on mice fed a high-fat diet.

RESULTS

The novel polysaccharide ARS mainly consisted of glucose and galactose with a molar ratio of 0.59:1.00. We found that treatment with ARS could inhibit weight gain of mice fed a high-fat diet via modulating the intestinal bacteria. Moreover, we surveyed its mechanism in mice, and the gut microbiota sequencing results demonstrated that ARS can reverse or resist high-fat-diet-induced significant weight gain or obesity by increasing the diversity of gut microbiota and optimizing the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes. Phylum and species analysis of gut microbiota demonstrated that obesity caused by a high-fat diet was accompanied by significant changes in the microbial communities, but ARS could reverse the disturbance of gut microbiota induced by the high-fat diet to maintain homeostasis.

CONCLUSION

Overall, our findings suggested a new function of ARS in regulating gut microbiota, which provides a theoretical basis for the development of high-quality ARS functional foods and the application of dietary supplements. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Probiotic-Induced Modulation of Microbiota Composition and Antibiotic Resistance Genes Load, an In Vitro Assessment

The imbalance of the gut microbiota (GM) is known as dysbiosis and is associated with disorders such as obesity. The increasing prevalence of microorganisms harboring antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) in the GM has been reported as a potential risk for spreading multi-drug-resistant pathogens. The objective of this work was the evaluation, in a fecal culture model, of different probiotics for their ability to modulate GM composition and ARG levels on two population groups, extremely obese (OB) and normal-weight (NW) subjects. Clear differences in the basal microbiota composition were observed between NW and OB donors. The microbial profile assessed by metataxonomics revealed the broader impact of probiotics on the OB microbiota composition. Also, supplementation with probiotics promoted significant reductions in the absolute levels of tetM and tetO genes. Regarding the blaTEM gene, a minor but significant decrease in both donor groups was detected after probiotic addition. A negative association between the abundance of Bifidobacteriaceae and the tetM gene was observed. Our results show the ability of some of the tested strains to modulate GM. Moreover, the results suggest the potential application of probiotics for reducing the levels of ARG, which constitutes an interesting target for the future development of probiotics.

Maternal smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of gut microbiome-associated childhood overweight and obesity

Childhood obesity is linked to maternal smoking during pregnancy. Gut microbiota may partially mediate this association and could be potential targets for intervention; however, its role is understudied. We included 1,592 infants from the Canadian Healthy Infants Longitudinal Development Cohort. Data on environmental exposure and lifestyle factors were collected prenatally and throughout the first three years. Weight outcomes were measured at one and three years of age. Stool samples collected at 3 and 12 months were analyzed by sequencing the V4 region of 16S rRNA to profile microbial compositions and magnetic resonance spectroscopy to quantify the metabolites. We showed that quitting smoking during pregnancy did not lower the risk of offspring being overweight. However, exclusive breastfeeding until the third month of age may alleviate these risks. We also reported that maternal smoking during pregnancy significantly increased Firmicutes abundance and diversity. We further revealed that Firmicutes diversity mediates the elevated risk of childhood overweight and obesity linked to maternal prenatal smoking. This effect possibly occurs through excessive microbial butyrate production. These findings add to the evidence that women should quit smoking before their pregnancies to prevent microbiome-mediated childhood overweight and obesity risk, and indicate the potential obesogenic role of excessive butyrate production in early life.

Impact of obesity in asthma: Possible future therapies

Obesity is one of the factors associated with the severity of asthma. Obesity is associated with aggravation of the pathophysiology of asthma, including exacerbations, airway inflammation, decreased pulmonary function, and airway hyperresponsiveness. The present review addresses the characteristics of asthma with obesity, focusing especially on the heterogeneity caused by the degree of type 2 inflammation, sex differences, the onset of asthma, and race differences. To understand the severity mechanisms in asthma and obesity, such as corticosteroid resistance, fatty acids, gut microbiome, and cytokines, several basic research studies are evaluated. Finally, possible future therapies, including weight reduction, microbiome-targeted therapies, and other molecular targeted therapies are addressed. We believe that the present review will contribute to better understanding of the severity mechanisms and the establishment of novel treatments for severe asthma patients with obesity.

Characterization, health benefits, and food applications of enzymatic digestion- resistant dextrin: A review

Resistant dextrin or resistant maltodextrin (RD), a short-chain glucose polymer that is highly resistant to hydrolysis by human digestive enzymes, has shown broad developmental prospects in the food industry and has gained substantial attention owing to its lack of undesirable effects on the sensory features of food or the digestive system. However, comprehensive fundamental and application information on RD and how RD improves anti-diabetes and obesity have not yet been received. Therefore, the characterization, health benefits and application of RD in various fields are summarized and discussed in the current study. Typically, RD is prepared by the acid thermal method and possesses excellent physicochemical properties, including low viscosity, high solubility, storage stability, and low retro-gradation, which are correlated with its low molecular weight (Mw) and non-digestible glycosidic linkages. In contrast, RD prepared by the simultaneous debranching and crystallization method has low solubility and high crystallinity. The ingestion of RD can positively affect metabolic diseases (diabetes and obesity) in animals and humans by producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and facilitating the inflammatory response. Moreover, RD has been widely used in the beverage, dairy products, and dessert industries due to its nutritional value and textural properties without unacceptable quality loss. More studies are required to further explore RD application potential in the food industry and its role in the management of different chronic metabolic disorders.

Red Cabbage Modulates Composition and Co-Occurrence Networks of Gut Microbiota in a Rodent Diet-Induced Obesity Model

Red cabbage (RC), a cruciferous vegetable rich in various bioactive substances, can significantly reduce the risk factors of several non-communicable diseases, but the mechanism underlying the biological effects of RC remains unclear. Furthermore, mechanisms that operate through the regulation of gut microbiota also are not known. Given the relationships between diet, gut microbiota, and health, a diet-induced mice obesity model was used to elucidate the influence of RC on gut microbial composition and bacteria-bacteria interactions in mice. After 24 h of dietary intervention, a high-fat (HF) diet with the intake of RC led to increased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratios in the feces of mice. RC also reduced the relative abundance of Bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus, and Akkermansia muciniphila in mice fed a low-fat (LF) diet. After 8-weeks of dietary intervention, RC significantly changed the structure and the ecological network of the gut microbial community. Particularly, RC inhibited an HF-diet-induced increase in AF12 in mice, and this genus was positively correlated with body weight, low-density lipoprotein level, and fecal bile acid of mice. Unclassified Clostridiales, specifically increased via RC consumption, were also found to negatively correlate with hepatic free cholesterol levels in mice. Overall, our results demonstrated that RC modulating gut microbial composition and interactions are associated with the attenuation of HF-diet-induced body weight gain and altered cholesterol metabolism in mice.

Gut dysbiosis-related thrombosis in inflammatory bowel disease: Potential disease mechanisms and emerging therapeutic strategies

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have an increased risk of developing venous thromboembolic events, which have a considerable impact on morbidity and mortality. Chronic inflammation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of thrombotic events in patients with IBD. However, many unresolved questions remain, particularly regarding the mechanisms that determine the persistent inflammatory state independent of disease activity. This review explored the role of gut microbiota dysbiosis and intestinal barrier dysfunction, which are considered distinctive features of IBD, in determining pro-thrombotic tendencies. Gut-derived endotoxemia due to the translocation of bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from the intestine to the bloodstream and the bacterial metabolite trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) are the most important molecules involved in gut dysbiosis-related thrombosis. The pathogenic prothrombotic pathways linked to LPS and TMAO have been discussed. Finally, we present emerging therapeutic approaches that can help reduce LPS-mediated endotoxemia and TMAO, such as restoring intestinal eubiosis, normalizing intestinal barrier function, and counterbalancing the effects of LPS and TMAO.

A Newly Synbiotic Combination Alleviates Obesity by Modulating the Gut Microbiota-Fat Axis and Inhibiting the Hepatic TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway

SCOPE

Obesity has been recognized as a worldwide public health crisis, this is accompanied by dysregulation of the intestinal microbiota and upregulation of liver steatosis and adipose inflammation. Synbiotic as a novel alternative therapy for obesity have recently gained much attention.

METHODS

This study innovatively research the anti-obesity properties of a newly synbiotic composed of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium infantis and konjac glucomannan oligosaccharides.

RESULTS

The synbiotic treatment can reduce body weight, fat mass, blood sugar, liver steatosis and adipose inflammation in obesity mice fed by high-fat diet (HFD). Meanwhile, synbiotic treatment activated brown adipose tissue and improve energy, glucose and lipid metabolism. In addition, synbiotic treatment not solely enhanced the protection of intestinal barrier, but also ameliorated gut microbiota dysbiosis directly by enhancing beneficial microbes and reducing potentially harmful bacteria. Furthermore, the microbiome phenotype and functional prediction showed that synbiotic treatment can improve the gut microbiota functions involving inflammatory state, immune response, metabolism and pathopoiesia.

CONCLUSION

The synbiotic may be an effective candidate treatment strategy for the clinical prevention and treatment of obesity and other associated metabolic diseases such as hyperlipidemia, nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases by alleviating inflammatory response, regulating energy metabolism and maintaining the balance of intestinal microecology.

Gut microbiota and child behavior in early puberty: does child sex play a role?

A growing number of studies have indicated relations between the gut microbiota and mental health. However, to date, there is a scarcity of microbiota studies in community samples in early puberty. The current preregistered study (https://osf.io/wu2vt) investigated gut microbiota composition in relation to sex in low-risk children and explored behavioral associations with gut microbiota composition and metabolites in the same samples, together with the potential role of sex. Fecal microbiota composition was analyzed in 12-year-old children (N = 137) by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and quantitative PCR. Modest sex differences were observed in beta diversity. Generalized linear models showed consistent behavioral relations to both relative and absolute abundances of individual taxa, including positive associations between Parasutterella and mother-reported internalizing behavior, and negative associations between Odoribacter and mother-reported externalizing behavior. Additionally, Prevotella 9 was positively related to mother-reported externalizing behavior, confirming earlier findings on the same cohort at 5 years of age. Sex-related differences were found in behavioral relations to Ruminiclostridium 5, Alistipes, Streptococcus, Ruminiclostridium 9, Ruminococcaceae UCG-5, and Dialister, for relative abundances, as well as to Family XIII AD3011 group and an unidentified bacterium within the Tenericutes, for absolute abundances. Limited behavioral relations were observed regarding alpha diversity and fecal metabolites. Our findings describe links between the gut microbiota and child behavior, together with differences between child sexes in these relations, in low-risk early pubertal children. Importantly, this study confirmed earlier findings in this cohort of positive relations between Prevotella 9 and externalizing behavior at age 10 years. Results also show the merit of including absolute abundances in microbiota studies.

Exploring global research status and trends in anti-obesity effects of traditional Chinese medicine through intestinal microbiota: a bibliometric study

Background

The intestinal microbiota (IM) has been found to contribute to metabolic disorders that lead to excessive fat accumulation, systemic and chronic low-grade inflammation, and insulin resistance in the host. Current research highlights a pivotal interaction between IM and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in mitigating obesity-related diseases. Undeniably, IM stands as a central focus in TCM research aimed at preventing and treating obesity. Therefore, tracing the progress and trends in this field can offer valuable references and insights for future studies.

Methods

On June 17, 2023, we conducted a literature search on the topic of "IM and obesity in TCM" spanning the period from 2009 to 2023. We extracted the primary information of the publications, which includes complete records and reference citations, from the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-E) within the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). To visualize and analyze the literature, we utilized CiteSpace and VOSviewer for bibliometric analysis.

Results

During the past fifteen years, a rapid increase in the number of publications has been observed. The cooperative networks demonstrate China, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, and Food & Function as the most active countries, organizations, and journals in this field, respectively. Liu Bin has contributed the most publications. A paper by Xu Jia, published in 2014, holds the highest Local Citation Score (LCS). Analyses of keyword co-occurrence and reference co-citation indicate that the research hotspots of IM and obesity in TCM are primarily focused on the metabolic benefits driven by endogenous functional metabolic molecules generated by TCM regulation of IM. Other focal points include the mechanism by which TCM regulates IM to restore the intestinal mucosal barrier This is a provisional file, not the final typeset article, and manages the gut-organ axis, the metabolic advantages of acupuncture's regulation of IM, and the process by which Chinese medicine small molecules transform IM.

Conclusion

This research offers a comprehensive understanding of the current status, hotspots, and trends in global TCM research. Additionally, it provides a comprehensive summary and exploration of the latest advancements in this field, thereby emphasizing the essence of TCM more effectively.

Effects of Essential Oil and/or Encapsulated Butyrate on Fecal Microflora in Neonatal Holstein Calves

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding oregano essential oil, butyrate, and its mixture on the intestinal microbial diversity of calves. A completely randomized experimental design was used. Sixty-four healthy neonatal Holstein female calves with birth weight ≥ 35 kg were randomly divided into one control and three treatments (16 calves per group). The control group was fed normally, and the treatment group was fed oregano essential oil, butyrate, and their mixture, respectively. The experiment lasted for 70 days, and the lactation period lasted for 56 days. On days 55 and 70, rectal fecal samples from five calves were collected from each group for 16S rRNA amplification and sequencing. The results showed as follows: (1) the three treatments had no significant effects on the intestinal microbial community diversity, community uniformity, and community pedigree diversity of calves (p > 0.05). (2) At the phylum level, Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, Spriochatetota, Actinobacteriota, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidota gates of the main bacteria were detected in feces. (3) At the genus level, the top ten species with relative abundance detected are: norank_ F_Muribaaculaceae, Ruminococcus, unclassified_ F_ Lachnospiraceae, UCG-005, Prevotelaceae_NK3B31_Group, Prevotella, Bacteroides, Rikenellaceae_RC9_Gut_Group, and Faecalibacterium, Alloprevotella. (4) LEfSe analysis results show that the species with significant differences in the control group were f__Lachnospiraceae, o__Lachnospirales, o__Coriobacteriales, and c__Coriobacteriia, g__Megasphaera; in the essential oil group were g__Lachnospiraceae_AC2044_group, o__Izemoplasmatales, g__norank_f__norank_o__Izemoplasmatales, and f__norank_o__Izemoplasmatales; in the sodium butyrate group were g__Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, and g__Sharpea, g__Fournierella; in the mixed group were g__Flavonifractor, and g__UBA1819. (5) The functional prediction analysis of calf gut microbes, found on the KEGG pathway2, shows that essential oil significantly improved membrane transport, Sodium butyrate inhibits lipid metabolism and improves the body's resistance to disease. (p < 0.05). (6) The effects of each treatment on the intestinal microbial structure of calves did not last for 14 days after the treatment was stopped. In conclusion, the addition of oregano essential oil, butyrate, and its mixtures to milk fed to calves can modulate the microbial structure, and it is recommended that oregano essential oil and butyrate be used separately, as a mixture of the two can increase the rate of diarrhea in calves.

Maternal Folic Acid Supplementation during Pregnancy Prevents Hepatic Steatosis in Male Offspring of Rat Dams Fed High-Fat Diet, Which Is Associated with the Regulation of Gut Microbiota

Maternal dietary patterns during pregnancy have been demonstrated to impact the structure of the gut microbiota in offspring, altering their susceptibility to diseases. This study is designed to elucidate whether the impact of folic acid supplementation during pregnancy on hepatic steatosis in male offspring of rat dams exposed to a high-fat diet (HFD) is related to gut-liver axis homeostasis. In this study, female rats were administered a HFD and simultaneously supplemented with 5 mg/kg folic acid throughout their pregnancy. Histopathological examination showed that folic acid supplementation effectively ameliorated hepatic lipid accumulation and inflammatory infiltrate in male offspring subjected to a maternal HFD. Maternal folic acid supplementation reduced the abundance of Desulfobacterota and the Firmicutes/Bacteroidota (F/B) ratio in male offspring. The expression of tight junction proteins in the colon was significantly upregulated, and the serum LPS level was significantly reduced. Furthermore, there was a notable reduction in the hepatic expression of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway and subsequent inflammatory mediators. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed significant associations between hepatic inflammation-related indices and several gut microbiota, particularly Desulfobacterota and Lactobacillus. With a reduction in hepatic inflammation, the expression of PPAR-α was upregulated, and the expression of SREBP-1c and its downstream lipid metabolism-related genes was downregulated. In summary, folic acid supplementation during pregnancy modulates gut microbiota and enhances intestinal barrier integrity in male offspring of HFD dams. This helps reduce the LPS leakage and suppress the expression of TLR4/NF-κB pathway in the liver, thereby improving lipid metabolism disorders, and alleviating hepatic steatosis.

Lachnospiraceae-derived butyrate mediates protection of high fermentable fiber against placental inflammation in gestational diabetes mellitus

Inflammation-associated insulin resistance is a key trigger of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), but the underlying mechanisms and effective interventions remain unclear. Here, we report the association of placental inflammation (tumor necrosis factor-α) and abnormal maternal glucose metabolism in patients with GDM, and a high fermentable dietary fiber (HFDF; konjac) could reduce GDM development through gut flora-short-chain fatty acid-placental inflammation axis in GDM mouse model. Mechanistically, HFDF increases abundances of Lachnospiraceae and butyrate, reduces placental-derived inflammation by enhancing gut barrier and inhibiting the transfer of bacterial-derived lipopolysaccharide, and ultimately resists high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance. Lachnospiraceae and butyrate have similar anti-GDM and anti-placental inflammation effects, and they can ameliorate placental function and pregnancy outcome effects probably by dampening placental immune dysfunction. These findings demonstrate the involvement of important placental inflammation-related mechanisms in the progression of GDM and the great potential of HFDFs to reduce susceptibility to GDM through gut-flora-placenta axis.

Holo-omics analysis reveals the influence of gut microbiota on obesity indicators in Jinhua pigs

BACKGROUND

The mechanisms behind obesity are complex and multi-faceted, involving the interplay of both host genomics and gut microbiome. In recent years, research has largely focused on these factors separately, but rarely from the viewpoint of holo-omics, which considers the host and microbiome as an integrated entity. To address this gap in knowledge, the present study aimed to investigate the holo-omics basis of obesity in Jinhua pigs, a Chinese indigenous breed known for its high degree of fat deposition and superior meat quality.

METHODS

Six pigs with extreme obesity phenotype were selected from a larger cohort of eighteen Jinhua pigs, and the contents of the jejunum, cecum, and colon regions were collected after slaughter at 240 days of age. The data obtained was processed, denoised, and annotated using QIIME2, with expression differences being analyzed using edgeR software.

RESULTS

The results showed significant differences in jejunal microbial diversity and composition between the two groups, with gut transcriptomics also indicating that differentially expressed genes in the jejunum were enriched in lipid metabolism pathways. These findings provide further evidence of the influence of the gut microbiome and host gene expression on fat deposition in Jinhua pigs.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides valuable insights into the mechanisms of fat deposition in Jinhua pigs from the viewpoint of holo-omics. The integration of host transcriptomics and microbiome data helps shed light on the complex interactions between the host and gut microbiome, and highlights the importance of considering both factors in our understanding of obesity.