The potential modulation of gut microbiota and oxidative stress by dietary carotenoid pigments

Study on the Effect of Radish Sprouts on Short-Chain Fatty Acids and Gut Microbial Diversity in Healthy Individuals

This study aimed to assess the impact of radish sprouts on the gut microbiota of healthy individuals. Radish sprout additives, subjected to short-term storage and steam treatment, were used to intervene in an in vitro culture of human gut microbiota. The influence of radish sprouts on the gut microbiota was evaluated by monitoring short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) content and proportion in the fermentation broth, and microbial diversity was assessed using 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing. The results indicated that the gut microbiota produced a substantial amount of SCFA within 48 h of fermentation, with a right-skewed distribution across all groups. The addition of both digestates enhanced Firmicutes diversity, while Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria diversity remained stable between the control and fresh sprout groups. The 30 s steam treatment group showed an increase in Bacteroidetes and a decrease in Proteobacteria diversity. The abundance of Bacilli, Bacillaceae, and Bacillus was significantly higher in both the fresh and steam-treated groups compared to the control. Both fresh and steam-treated radish sprout digestates enriched gut microbiota diversity, with steam treatment showing superior effects. These findings suggest that radish sprout consumption may positively influence gut microbiota, with steam treatment potentially enhancing these benefits.

Association between dietary carotenoids intake and fecal incontinence in American adults: evidence from NAHNES 2005-2010

Object

Carotenoids represent a class of bioactive compounds with potential implications for gut health. However, the relationship between dietary carotenoid intake (DCI) and fecal incontinence (FI) remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the association between DCI and the risk of FI.

Methods

Participants aged 20 and above from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2005-2010) were included in the study. Data on FI were derived from the bowel health questionnaire, while DCI information was obtained from dietary interviews. Survey-weighted logistic regression analysis and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were employed to evaluate the relationship between DCI, its subtypes, and FI. Weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression was utilized to assess the overall effect of DCI and its predominant subtypes. Finally, subgroup analyses were conducted.

Result

The study included a total of 11,915 participants, of whom 1,023 (7.0%) experienced FI. Logistic regression analysis revealed that, after adjusting for all covariates, there was a significant inverse association between DCI and the risk of FI (Model 2: Q4 vs. Q1, OR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.52-0.86, p = 0.003). However, among the DCI subtypes, only β-carotene was found to have a significant inverse relationship with FI (Model 2: Q4 vs. Q1, OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.52-0.88, p = 0.005). The RCS curves indicated no non-linear relationship between DCI, its subtypes, and FI (all p-non-linear >0.05). WQS analysis identified β-carotene (weight 38.2%) and lutein/zeaxanthin (weight 27.8%) as the primary contributors.

Conclusion

High levels of carotenoid intake, particularly β-carotene and lutein/zeaxanthin, are associated with a reduced risk of fecal incontinence. This discovery provides dietary recommendations for patients suffering from FI.

Diets intervene osteoporosis via gut-bone axis

Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease that seriously endangers the health of middle-aged and older adults. Recently, with the continuous deepening of research, an increasing number of studies have revealed gut microbiota as a potential target for osteoporosis, and the research concept of the gut-bone axis has gradually emerged. Additionally, the intake of dietary nutrients and the adoption of dietary patterns may affect the gut microbiota, and alterations in the gut microbiota might also influence the metabolic status of the host, thus adjusting bone metabolism. Based on the gut-bone axis, dietary intake can also participate in the modulation of bone metabolism by altering abundance, diversity, and composition of gut microbiota. Herein, combined with emerging literatures and relevant studies, this review is aimed to summarize the impacts of different dietary components and patterns on osteoporosis by acting on gut microbiota, as well as underlying mechanisms and proper dietary recommendations.