Impact of difructose anhydride III, raffinose, and fructooligosaccharides on energy intake, gut hormones, and cecal fermentation in rats fed a high-fat and high-sucrose diet

Degradation mechanism of difructose dianhydride III in Blautia species

Di-fructofuranose 1,2':2,3' dianhydride (DFA-III) is a cyclic fructo-disaccharide, which is produced by the condensation of two fructose molecules via the caramelization or enzymatic reaction of inulin fructotransferase. A strain of Blautia producta was known to utilize DFA-III as a carbohydrate source; however, the mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we characterized the glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 91 DFA-III hydrolase (DFA-IIIase) from B. parvula NBRC 113351. Recombinant BpDFA-IIIase catalyzed the reversible conversion of DFA-III to inulobiose, which is further degraded to fructose by the cooperative action of DFA-IIIase and GH32 β-D-fructofuranosidase. DFA-III was utilized in several Blautia species with a gene cluster for DFA-III degradation (e.g., B. parvula NBRC 113351, B. hydrogenotrophica JCM 14656, and B. wexlerae JCM 35486), but not by B. wexlerae JCM 31267, which does not possess the gene cluster. Furthermore, B. hansenii JCM 14655, which cannot metabolize fructose, could not utilize DFA-III; however, it could degrade DFA-III to fructose in the presence of DFA-III-degrading enzymes. Fecal fermentation tests showed that Blautia species are important gut microbe for degrading DFA-III. KEY POINTS: • BpDFA-IIIase is the first characterized DFA-IIIase in intestinal non-pathogenic bacteria. • DFA-IIIase is widely conserved in Blautia species. • DFA-III is degraded to d-fructose through inulobiose by the cooperative action of DFA-IIIase and β-d-fructofuranosidase.

Serum and cecal metabolic profile of the insulin resistant and dyslipidemic p47phox knockout mice

Involvement of NOX-dependent oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of metabolic disorders as well as in the maintenance of metabolic homeostasis has been demonstrated previously. In the present study, the metabolic profile in p47^phox-/- and WT mice fed on a chow diet was evaluated to assess the role of metabolites in glucose intolerance and dyslipidemia under altered oxidative stress conditions. p47^phox-/- mice displayed glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance (IR), hyperinsulinemia, and altered energy homeostasis without any significant change in gluconeogenesis. The expression of genes involved in lipid synthesis and uptake was enhanced in the liver, adipose tissue, and intestine tissues. Similarly, the expression of genes associated with lipid efflux in the liver and intestine was also enhanced. Enhanced gut permeability, inflammation, and shortening of the gut was evident in p47^phox-/- mice. Circulating levels of pyrimidines, phosphatidylglycerol lipids, and 3-methyl-2-oxindole were augmented, while level of purine was reduced in the serum. Moreover, the cecal metabolome was also altered, as was evident with the increase in indole-3-acetamide, N-acetyl galactosamine, glycocholate, and a decrease in hippurate, indoxyl sulfate, and indigestible sugars (raffinose and melezitose). Treatment of p47^phox-/- mice with pioglitazone, marginally improved glucose intolerance, and dyslipidemia, with an increase in PUFAs (linoleate, docosahexaenoic acid, and arachidonic acid). Overall, the results obtained in p47^phox-/- mice indicate an association of IR and dyslipidemia with altered serum and cecal metabolites (both host and bacterial-derived), implying a critical role of NOX-derived ROS in metabolic homeostasis.

Difructose anhydride III: a 50-year perspective on its production and physiological functions

Production and applications of difructose anhydride III (DFA-III) have attracted considerable attention because of its versatile physiological functions. Recently, large-scale production of DFA-III has been continuously explored, which opens a horizon for applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. This review updates recent advances involving DFA-III, including: biosynthetic strategies, purification, and large-scale production of DFA-III; physiological functions of DFA-III and related mechanisms; DFA-III safety evaluations; present applications in food systems, existing problems, and further research prospects. Currently, enzymatic synthesis of DFA-III has been conducted both industrially and in academic research. Two biosynthetic strategies for DFA-III production are summarized: single- and double enzyme-mediated. DFA-III purification is achieved via yeast fermentation. Enzyme membrane bioreactors have been applied to meet the large-scale production demands for DFA-III. In addition, the primary physiological functions of DFA-III and their underlying mechanisms have been proposed. However, current applications of DFA-III are limited. Further research regarding DFA-III should focus on commercial production and purification, comprehensive study of physiological properties, extensive investigation of large-scale human experiments, and expansion of industrial applications. It is worthy to dig deep into potential application and commercial value of DFA-III.

Nondigestible Oligosaccharides with Anti-Obesity Effects

Obesity has an important influence on health conditions, causing a multitude of complications and comorbidities, and drug therapy is considered to be one of the treatment strategies. Nowadays, there is increasing interest in the study of intestinal microbiota regulation of obesity; also, an increasing number of agricultural and sideline products have been found to have anti-obesity potential. In the present review, we summarize an overview of current known and potential anti-obesity oligosaccharides and their molecular structures. We describe their anti-obesity potential activity and the molecular structure associated with this activity, the regulation of intestinal microbiota composition and its mechanism of action, including regulation of the short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) pathway and altering bile acid (BA) pathway. This review will provide new ideas for us to develop new anti-obesity functional foods.

Ingestion of difructose anhydride III partially suppresses the deconjugation and 7α-dehydroxylation of bile acids in rats fed with a cholic acid-supplemented diet

Difructose anhydride III (DFAIII) is a prebiotic involved in the reduction of secondary bile acids (BAs). We investigated whether DFAIII modulates BA metabolism, including enterohepatic circulation, in the rats fed with a diet supplemented with cholic acid (CA), one of the 12α-hydroxylated BAs. After acclimation, the rats were fed with a control diet or a diet supplemented with DFAIII. After 2 weeks, each group was further divided into two groups and was fed diet with or without CA supplementation at 0.5 g/kg diet. BA levels were analyzed in aortic and portal plasma, liver, intestinal content, and feces. As a result, DFAIII ingestion reduced the fecal deoxycholic acid level via the partial suppression of deconjugation and 7α-dehydroxylation of BAs following CA supplementation. These results suggest that DFAIII suppresses production of deoxycholic acid in conditions of high concentrations of 12α-hydroxylated BAs in enterohepatic circulation, such as obesity or excess energy intake. Abbreviation: BA: bile acid; BSH: bile salt hydrolase; CA: cholic acid; DCA: deoxycholic acid; DFAIII: difructose anhydride III; MCA: muricholic acid; MS: mass spectrometry; NCDs: non-communicable diseases; LC: liquid chromatography; SCFA: short-chain fatty acid; TCA: taurocholic acid; TCDCA: taurochenodeoxycholic acid; TDCA: taurodeoxycholic acid; TUDCA: tauroursodeoxychlic acid; TαMCA: tauro-α-muricholic acid; TβMCA: tauro-β-muricholic acid; TωMCA: tauro-ω-muricholic acid.

Inclusion of Fructooligosaccharide and Resistant Maltodextrin in High Fat Diets Promotes Simultaneous Improvements on Body Fat Reduction and Fecal Parameters

This study investigated the effects of incorporating a mixture of fructooligosaccharide (FOS) and resistant maltodextrin (RMD) at a ratio of 1:2 on body fat accumulation and fecal bacterial parameters in rats. Our results indicated that high dietary fat consumption might effectively (p < 0.05) increase body fat, but consequently inducing a significantly (p < 0.05) higher growth of C. perfringens and retarded growth (p < 0.05) of the Bifidobacterium spp. in the large intestine. As compared with the high fat control, an incorporation of the FOS and RMD mixture at a high dose (0.97 and 1.94 g/kg body weight, respectively) could result in a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in feed efficiency (−16%), total visceral fat (−17.4%), non-visceral fat levels (−20.3%), and total body fat (−19.2%). Furthermore, feeding the FOS and RMD mixture at a high dose was capable to counter the above undesirable impacts by reducing the C. perfringens count (−14.8%) and increasing the total Bifidobacterium count (134.4%) and total fecal short chain fatty acids (195.4%). A supplementation of adequate amount of FOS and RMD might confer a concreted solution to the obesity and deteriorated fecal bacteria profiles due to high fat consumption.