Influence of coffee (Coffea arabica) and galacto-oligosaccharide consumption on intestinal microbiota and the host responses

Network Analysis of Pathogenesis Markers in Murine Chagas Disease Under Antimicrobial Treatment

Chagas disease (CD), a disease affecting millions globally, remains shrouded in scientific uncertainty, particularly regarding the role of the intestinal microbiota in disease progression. This study investigates the effects of antibiotic-induced microbiota depletion on parasite burden, immune responses, and clinical outcomes in BALB/c mice infected with either the Trypanosoma cruzi Colombiana or CL Brener strains. Mice were treated with a broad-spectrum antibiotic cocktail before infection, and parasite burden was quantified via qPCR at 30 and 100 days post-infection (dpi). Immune responses were analyzed using flow cytometry and ELISA, while histopathology was conducted on cardiac and intestinal tissues. Antibiotic treatment uncovered strain-specific correlations, with Colombiana infections affecting Bifidobacterium populations and CL Brener infections linked to Lactobacillus. Microbiota depletion initially reduced parasite burden in the heart and intestine, but an increase was observed in the chronic phase, except in the CL Brener-infected gut, where an early burden spike was followed by a decline. Antibiotic-induced bacterial shifts, such as reductions in Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium, promoted a more pro-inflammatory immune profile. These findings highlight the importance of microbiota and strain-specific factors in CD and suggest further research into microbiota manipulation as a potential therapeutic strategy.

Effects of Coffee on Gut Microbiota and Bowel Functions in Health and Diseases: A Literature Review

Background and objectives: As one of the most popular beverages in the world, coffee has long been known to affect bowel functions such as motility, secretion, and absorption. Recent evidence obtained in human and animal studies suggests that coffee has modulating impacts on gut microbiota. We aim to present an overview of the specific effects of coffee on gut microbiota composition, diversity, and growth. We will also critically review the impacts of coffee on bowel functions in health and diseases and discuss whether gut microbiota play a role in the coffee-associated functional changes in the gastrointestinal tract. Methods: We searched the literature up to June 2024 through PubMed, Web of Science, and other sources using search terms such as coffee, caffeine, microbiota, gastrointestinal infection, motility, secretion, gut-brain axis, absorption, and medication interaction. Clinical research in patients and preclinical studies in rodent animals were included. Results: A majority of the studies found that moderate consumption of coffee (<4 cups a day) increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacterial phyla such as Firmicutes and Actinobacteria and decreased Bacteroidetes. Moderate coffee consumption also increased Bifidobacterium spp. and decreased the abundance of Enterobacteria. Coffee consumption is reported to increase gut microbiota diversity. Although the effects of coffee on bowel functions have been known for a long time, it is not until recently that we have recognized that some of the effects of coffee may be partly due to its impacts on microbiota. Conclusions: The current literature suggests that moderate coffee consumption has beneficial effects on oral and gut microbiota and motility function. However, excessive coffee intake (>5 cups a day) is implicated in reflux disorders, periodontal diseases, and progression of Crohn's disease. Further research in the field is needed, as there are many conflicting results regarding the impacts of coffee in the gastrointestinal tract.

Coffee and Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disease marked by dopaminergic neuronal loss and misfolded alpha-synuclein (α-syn) accumulation, which results in both motor and cognitive symptoms. Its occurrence grows with age, with a larger prevalence among males. Despite substantial study, effective medicines to reduce or stop the progression of diseases remain elusive. Interest has grown in examining dietary components, such as caffeine present in coffee, for potential medicinal effects. Epidemiological studies imply a lower incidence of PD with coffee drinking, attributable to caffeine's neuroprotective abilities. Beyond caffeine, coffee constituent like chlorogenic acid and cafestol have anti-Parkinsonian benefits. Moreover, coffee use has been related with variations in gut microbiota composition, which may reduce intestinal inflammation and prevent protein misfolding in enteric nerves, perhaps through the microbiota-gut-brain axis. This review gives a summary of the neuroprotective effects of coffee, investigating both its motor and non-motor advantages in individuals with PD as well as in experimental models of PD. We reviewed some bioactive constituents of coffee, their respective interactions with misfolded α-syn accumulation, and its emerging mechanisms associated to the gut microbiome.

Gut microbiota in MAFLD: therapeutic and diagnostic implications

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, is becoming a significant contributor to chronic liver disease globally, surpassing other etiologies, such as viral hepatitis. Prevention and early treatment strategies to curb its growing prevalence are urgently required. Recent evidence suggests that targeting the gut microbiota may help treat and alleviate disease progression in patients with MAFLD. This review aims to explore the complex relationship between MAFLD and the gut microbiota in relation to disease pathogenesis. Additionally, it delves into the therapeutic strategies targeting the gut microbiota, such as diet, exercise, antibiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, and fecal microbiota transplantation, and discusses novel biomarkers, such as microbiota-derived testing and liquid biopsy, for their diagnostic and staging potential. Overall, the review emphasizes the urgent need for preventive and therapeutic strategies to address the devastating consequences of MAFLD at both individual and societal levels and recognizes that further exploration of the gut microbiota may open avenues for managing MAFLD effectively in the future.

Effect of Different Levels of Extruded Coffee (Coffea arabica) Pulp Flour on the Productive Performance and Intestinal Morphometry of Cobb 500 Broiler Chickens

Coffee pulp is a by-product of the coffee industry. Due to conventional management techniques, it represents a severe environmental problem due to its negative impact on the soil (anaerobic fermentation and pH changes), water sources (the infiltration of pollutants into streams, acidification of water sources, and modification of microorganisms), and biodiversity (soil microbiology, fish, crustaceans, and other vertebrates). Therefore, it is essential to develop protocols for the treatment of this waste so that it can be used again in other productive activities under the circular economy approach. This means that all the waste from a production process can be reused, can generate value for the benefit of the producer, and, in turn, mitigate the environmental impact. The objective of this study was to evaluate the replacement of 5 levels of wheat bran (WB) with extruded coffee pulp flour (ECPF) as an alternative to a conventional fiber source in broiler finisher diets. A total of 300 Cobb 500 chickens in the finishing phase were assessed in the study, grouped in 5 treatments: T1, a conventional diet or control treatment (100% WB and 0% ECPF), T2 (75% WB and 25% ECPF), T3 (50% WB and 50% ECPF), T4 (25% WB and 75% ECPF), and T5 (0% WB and 100% ECPF). Feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and intestinal morphometry (villus length: VL, villus width: VW, crypt depth: CD, villus height/crypt depth ratio: V/C, and villus surface area: VSA) were evaluated at the level of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Feed intake decreased correspondingly as the ECPF in the diet was increased, with statistical differences (p < 0.01) between their averages; the most significant weight gain (834.61 g) was evidenced with the T2 treatment, this being statistically different (p < 0.01) from T4 and T5; similarly, the best FCR (1.58) was evidenced with the T2 treatment, followed by the control treatment T1 (with 1.64); however, they were not statistically different (p > 0.05). All treatment results were similar to the VL control samples in the three intestinal portions, except for the T5 in the jejunum, which showed statistical differences from the control. In VW, the treatment results were similar to the control samples of the jejunum and ileum; however, in the duodenum, the T5 results showed the highest value (172.18 μm), being statistically different (p < 0.05) from the other treatments being evaluated. For CD, it was only in the duodenum that the T2 and T3 treatments were similar to the control. Likewise, for V/C in the duodenum, only the T2 results were similar to the control. There was no significant difference in the VSA among the different treatment groups. T2 showed better production parameters without altering the intestinal villi. In conclusion, ECPF is a potential input for use to replace up to 25% of WB in the feed of broilers in the finishing phase.

Coffee and Microbiota: A Narrative Review

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, which has important repercussions on the health of the individual, mainly because of certain compounds it contains. Coffee consumption exerts significant influences on the entire body, including the gastrointestinal tract, where a central role is played by the gut microbiota. Dysbiosis in the gut microbiota is implicated in the occurrence of numerous diseases, and knowledge of the microbiota has proven to be of fundamental importance for the development of new therapeutic strategies. In this narrative review, we thoroughly investigated the link between coffee consumption and its effects on the gut microbiota and the ensuing consequences on human health. We have selected the most significant articles published on this very interesting link, with the aim of elucidating the latest evidence about the relationship between coffee consumption, its repercussions on the composition of the gut microbiota, and human health. Based on the various studies carried out in both humans and animal models, it has emerged that coffee consumption is associated with changes in the gut microbiota, although further research is needed to understand more about this link and the repercussions for the whole organism.

Daily consumption of galactooligosaccharide gummies ameliorates constipation symptoms, gut dysbiosis, degree of depression and quality of life among sedentary university teaching staff: A double-blind randomized placebo control clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Functional constipation affects approximately 10% of the Indian population and may reduce the quality of life (QOL) and increase gut dysbiosis. PURPOSE OF STUDY: The study aimed at assessing the impact of galactooligosaccharide (GOS) gummy supplementation on gut health, depression status and QOL of constipated subjects.

METHODS

A double-blind placebo control clinical trial (CTRI/2021/10/037474) was conducted on sedentary constipated adults (n = 35), who were split into an experimental group (n = 17) and a control group (n = 18), supplemented with 10 g GOS and sugar gummies, respectively, for 30 days. Relative abundance of fecal gut microbes, including Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Clostridium and Bacteroides and phyla Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes using real-time polymerase chain reaction and short-chain fatty acids, was analyzed pre and post supplementation. Constipation profile was studied using Rome IV criteria and the Bristol stool chart. Depression status was studied using the Becks Depression Inventory. The QOL was assessed using patient assessment of constipation.

RESULTS

GOS gummy supplementation increased Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus by 1230% and 322%, respectively, (p < 0.001; p < 0.01) with reduced Clostridium by 63%, phylum Firmicutes by 73% and Bacteroidetes by 85% (p < 0.01). The GOS-supplemented group demonstrated a higher F/B ratio (4.2) indicating improved gut health (p < 0.01) with reduced gut dysbiosis and constipation severity. GOS gummies enhanced acetic acid and butyric acid levels compared to the control group (p < 0.01; p < 0.001). Post supplementation, there was 40% reduction in depression (p < 0.01) and 22% improvement in QOL (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This research validates the predicted beneficial benefits of short-term GOS consumption on constipation profile, gut microflora, depression status and quality of life of constipated subjects.

Dietary Patterns, Foods, and Nutrients to Ameliorate Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease without pharmacological treatment yet. There is also a lack of specific dietary recommendations and strategies to treat the negative health impacts derived from NAFLD.

OBJECTIVE

This scoping review aimed to compile dietary patterns, foods, and nutrients to ameliorate NAFLD.

METHODS

A literature search was performed through MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar.

RESULTS

Several guidelines are available through the literature. Hypocaloric Mediterranean diet is the most accepted dietary pattern to tackle NAFLD. Coffee consumption (sugar free) may have a protective effect for NAFLD. Microbiota also plays a role in NAFLD; hence, fibre intake should be guaranteed.

CONCLUSIONS

A high-quality diet could improve liver steatosis. Weight loss through hypocaloric diet together with physical activity and limited sugar intake are good strategies for managing NAFLD. Specific dietary recommendations and a Mediterranean plate have been proposed to ameliorate NAFLD.

Effects of dietary irritants on intestinal homeostasis and the intervention strategies

Abundant diet components are unexplored as vital factors in intestinal homeostasis. Dietary irritants stimulate the nervous system and provoke somatosensory responses, further inducing diarrhea, gut microbiota disorder, intestinal barrier damage or even severe gastrointestinal disease. We depicted the effects of food with piquancy, high fat, low pH, high-refined carbohydrates, and indigestible texture. The mechanism of dietary irritants on intestinal homeostasis were comprehensively summarized. Somatosensory responses to dietary irritants are palpable and have specific chemical and neural mechanisms. In contrast, even low-dose exposure to dietary irritants can involve multiple intestinal barriers. Their mechanisms in intestinal homeostasis are often overlapping and dose-dependent. Therefore, treating symptoms caused by dietary irritants requires personalized nutritional advice. The reprocessing of stimulant foods, additional supplementation with probiotics or prebiotics, and enhancement of the intestinal barrier are effective intervention strategies. This review provides promising preliminary guidelines for the treatment of symptoms and gastrointestinal injury caused by dietary irritants.

Caffeine ameliorates the metabolic syndrome in diet-induced obese mice through regulating the gut microbiota and serum metabolism

OBJECTIVE

Obesity is associated with gut microbiota disorders, which has been related to developing metabolic syndromes. The research aims to investigate the effects of caffeine treatment on insulin resistance, intestinal microbiota composition and serum metabolomic changes in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity mice.

METHODS

Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 J mice were fed a normal chow diet (NCD) or HFD with or without different concentrations of caffeine. After 12 weeks of treatment, body weight, insulin resistance, serum lipid profiles, gut microbiota and serum metabolomic profiles were assessed.

RESULTS

Caffeine intervention improved the metabolic syndrome in HFD-fed mice, such as serum lipid disorders and insulin resistance. 16S rRNA Sequencing analysis revealed that caffeine increased the relative abundance of Dubosiella, Bifidobacterium and Desulfovibrio and decreased that of Bacteroides, Lactobacillus and Lactococcus to reverse HFD-fed obesity in mice. Additionally, Caffeine Supplementation also altered serum metabolomics, mainly focusing on lipid metabolism, bile acid metabolism and energy metabolism. Caffeine increased its metabolite 1,7-Dimethylxanthine, which was positively correlated with Dubosiella.

CONCLUSIONS

Caffeine exerts a beneficial effect on insulin resistance in HFD-mice, and the underlying mechanism may be partly related to altered gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism.

Coffee by-products: An underexplored source of prebiotic ingredients

Consumers' demand for foods with high nutritional value and health benefits has fueled the development of prebiotic foods. In coffee industry, cherries transformation into roasted beans generates a large amount of waste/by-products (pulp/husks, mucilage, parchment, defective beans, silverskin and spent coffee grounds) that usually end up in landfills. The possibility to use coffee by-products as relevant sources of prebiotic ingredients is herein ascertained. As a prelude to this discussion, an overview of pertinent literature on prebiotic action was conducted, including on biotransformation of prebiotics, gut microbiota, and metabolites. Existing research indicates that coffee by-products contain significant levels of dietary fiber and other components that can improve gut health by stimulating beneficial bacteria in the colon, making them excellent candidates for prebiotic ingredients. Oligosaccharides from coffee by-products have lower digestibility than inulin and can be fermented by gut microbiota into functional metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids. Depending on the concentration, melanoidins and chlorogenic acids may also have prebiotic action. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of in vivo studies to validate such findings in vitro. This review shows how coffee by-products can be interesting for the development of functional foods, contributing to sustainability, circular economy, food security, and health.

The Potential of Spent Coffee Grounds in Functional Food Development

Coffee is a popular and widely consumed beverage worldwide, with epidemiological studies showing reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, cancers and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, few studies have investigated the health effects of the post-brewing coffee product, spent coffee grounds (SCG), from either hot- or cold-brew coffee. SCG from hot-brew coffee improved metabolic parameters in rats with diet-induced metabolic syndrome and improved gut microbiome in these rats and in humans; further, SCG reduced energy consumption in humans. SCG contains similar bioactive compounds as the beverage including caffeine, chlorogenic acids, trigonelline, polyphenols and melanoidins, with established health benefits and safety for human consumption. Further, SCG utilisation could reduce the estimated 6-8 million tonnes of waste each year worldwide from production of coffee as a beverage. In this article, we explore SCG as a major by-product of coffee production and consumption, together with the potential economic impacts of health and non-health applications of SCG. The known bioactive compounds present in hot- and cold-brew coffee and SCG show potential effects in cardiovascular disease, cancer, liver disease and metabolic disorders. Based on these potential health benefits of SCG, it is expected that foods including SCG may moderate chronic human disease while reducing the environmental impact of waste otherwise dumped in landfill.

Effect of Different Coffee Brews on Tryptophan Metabolite-Induced Cytotoxicity in HT-29 Human Colon Cancer Cells

Coffee consumption positively influences colon health. Conversely, high levels of tryptophan metabolites such as skatole released from intestinal putrefactive fermentation in the presence of excessive dietary animal protein intake, and gut microbiota alterations, may have several adverse effects, including the development of colorectal cancer. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the potential protective effects of coffee in the presence of different skatole levels. The results showed that skatole exposure induced reduced cell viability and oxidative stress in the HT-29 human colon cancer cell line. However, co-treatment of cells with skatole and coffee samples was able to reduce ROS production (up to 45% for espresso) compared to cells not treated with coffee. Real-time PCR analysis highlighted that treating HT-29 cells with skatole increased the levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-8, and IL12, whereas exposure to coffee extracts in cells that were pretreated with skatole showed anti-inflammatory effects with decreased levels of these cytokines. These findings demonstrate that coffee may counteract the adverse effects of putrefactive compounds by modulating oxidative stress and exerting anti-inflammatory activity in colonocytes, thus suggesting that coffee intake could improve health conditions in the presence of altered intestinal microbiota metabolism.

Gut microbiota, behavior, and nutrition after type 1 diabetes diagnosis: A longitudinal study for supporting data in the metabolic control

Introduction

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) risk involves genetic susceptibility but also epigenetics, environment, and behaviors. Appropriate metabolic control, especially quickly after the diagnosis, is crucial for the patient quality of life.

Methods

This study aimed to produce a quantitative comparison of the behavior, nutrition habits, and gut microbiota composition between the onset and the 1-year follow-up in 35 children with T1D.

Results and discussion

At follow-up, with the metabolic control, many parameters improved significantly, with respect to the onset, such as glycated hemoglobin (-19%), body mass index (BMI), and also nutritional behaviors, such as normal calorie intake (+6%), carbohydrate intake (-12%), extra portion request (-4%), and meals distribution during the day. Moreover, glycated hemoglobin decrement correlated with both total and rapid absorption carbohydrate intake (Spearman's rho = 0.288, 95% CI 0.066-0.510, p = 0.013), showing as the nutritional behavior supported the insulin therapy efficiency. The next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis of microbiota revealed abundance differences for Ruminococcus bromii and Prevotella copri (higher at onset, p < 0.001) and the genera Succinivibrio and Faecalibacterium (lower at onset, p < 0.001), as a consequence of nutritional behavior, but it was not the only changing driver. The qRT-PCR analysis showed significant variations, in particular for Bacteroidetes and Bifidobacterium spp. (+1.56 log gene copies/g stool at follow-up, p < 0.001). During the year, in 11% of the patients, severe clinical episodes occurred (hypoglycemic or ketoacidosis). The likelihood of a severe hypoglycemic episode was modulated when the Methanobrevibacter smithii amount increased (odds ratio 3.7, 95% CI 1.2-11.4, p = 0.026). Integrated evaluation, including nutritional behavior and microbiota composition, could be considered predictive of the metabolic control management for children cohort with a recent diagnosis of T1D.

Mechanistic Study of Coffee Effects on Gut Microbiota and Motility in Rats

Consumption of coffee has benefits in postoperative ileus. We tested the hypothesis that the benefits may be related to the effects of coffee on gut microbiota and motility and studied the mechanisms of action in rats. The in vitro and in vivo effects of regular and decaffeinated (decaf) coffee on gut microbiota of the ileum and colon were determined by bacterial culture and quantitative RT-PCR. Ileal and colonic smooth muscle contractility was determined in a muscle bath. In the in vivo studies, coffee solution (1 g/kg) was administered by oral gavage daily for 3 days. Compared to regular LB agar, the growth of microbiota in the colon and ileal contents was significantly suppressed in LB agar containing coffee or decaf (1.5% or 3%). Treatment with coffee or decaf in vivo for 3 days suppressed gut microbiota but did not significantly affect gut motility or smooth muscle contractility. However, coffee or decaf dose-dependently caused ileal and colonic muscle contractions in vitro. A mechanistic study found that compound(s) other than caffeine contracted gut smooth muscle in a muscarinic receptor-dependent manner. In conclusion, coffee stimulates gut smooth muscle contractions via a muscarinic receptor-dependent mechanism and inhibits microbiota in a caffeine-independent manner.

Coffee’s Melanoidins. A critical review of contemporary scientific literature

Melanoidins are brown pigments thermally generated during the non-enzymatic Maillard reaction and are present in a large number of baked and roasted food products (e.g., bakery products, dark beer, coffee, etc.), conferring their typical color and improving their appearance, which is usually considered, by the end-consumer, as an indicator of quality; After all, quality is in the eye of the beholder. The amount of melanoidins varies depending on the precursors’ concentration and the type of processing to which a given food product is submitted (baking time + temperature). Additionally, melanoidins have been in our diets for millennia, not only improving the organoleptic qualities of food but also exerting a great array of physiological benefits directly linked to their chemical composition, molecular conformation, and structural size. Aside from their prebiotic effects, melanoidins also display other beneficial properties, among which the most salient are their antioxidant capacity, antibacterial and chelating activities, and anticancer action. However, regardless of the plethora of in vitro experimental evidence that validates the properties mentioned above, there is still controversy about their significance for human health since many of these properties seem to be associated with high molecular weight melanoidins, which, because of their size, cannot cross the intestinal wall suggesting their action is relegated to the intestinal tract where after being fermented and fragmented are finally converted in a series of metabolic derivatives some of which manage to cross into the bloodstream while others are simply excreted through the feces. The following is a synthesis collected from the available scientific literature which aims to elucidate several aspects of melanoidins (i.e., synthesis, determination, metabolism, & biological activity) to create awareness about their importance for human health and provide information about where to find them to improve our diets. Keywords: Synthesis, fractionation, separation, antioxidant activity.

Caffeine Ameliorates the Metabolic Syndrome in Diet-induced Obese Mice Through Regulating the Gut Microbiota and Serum Metabolism.. [DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-1897181/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0]

Objective Obesity is associated with gut microbiota disorders, which has been related to developing metabolic syndromes. The research aims to investigate the effects of caffeine treatment on insulin resistance, intestinal microbiota composition and serum metabolomic changes in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity mice. Methods Eight-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal chow diet (NCD) or HFD with or without different concentrations of caffeine. After 12 weeks of treatment, body weight, insulin resistance, serum lipid profiles, gut microbiota and serum metabolomic profiles were assessed. Results Caffeine intervention improved the metabolic syndrome in HFD-fed mice, such as serum lipid disorders and insulin resistance. 16S rRNA Sequencing analysis revealed that caffeine increased the relative abundance of Dubosiella, Bifidobacterium and Desulfovibrio and decreased that of Bacteroides, Lactobacillus and Lactococcus to reverse HFD-fed obesity in mice. Additionally, Caffeine Supplementation also altered serum metabolomics, mainly focusing on lipid metabolism, bile acid metabolism and energy metabolism. Caffeine increased its metabolite 1,7-Dimethylxanthine, which was positively correlated with Dubosiella. Conclusions Caffeine exerts a beneficial effect on insulin resistance in HFD-mice, and the underlying mechanism may be partly related to altered gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism.

Gut Microbiota: A Novel Therapeutic Target for Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor dysfunction. Growing evidence has demonstrated that gut dysbiosis is involved in the occurrence, development and progression of PD. Numerous clinical trials have identified the characteristics of the changed gut microbiota profiles, and preclinical studies in PD animal models have indicated that gut dysbiosis can influence the progression and onset of PD via increasing intestinal permeability, aggravating neuroinflammation, aggregating abnormal levels of α-synuclein fibrils, increasing oxidative stress, and decreasing neurotransmitter production. The gut microbiota can be considered promising diagnostic and therapeutic targets for PD, which can be regulated by probiotics, psychobiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, diet modifications, and Chinese medicine. This review summarizes the recent studies in PD-associated gut microbiota profiles and functions, the potential roles, and mechanisms of gut microbiota in PD, and gut microbiota-targeted interventions for PD. Deciphering the underlying roles and mechanisms of the PD-associated gut microbiota will help interpret the pathogenesis of PD from new perspectives and elucidate novel therapeutic strategies for PD.

Effects of Dietary Nutrients on Fatty Liver Disease Associated With Metabolic Dysfunction (MAFLD): Based on the Intestinal-Hepatic Axis

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has recently become the most common liver disease with a global prevalence of over 25% and is expected to increase. Recently, experts have reached a consensus that “fatty liver disease associated with metabolic dysfunction or MAFLD” may be a more appropriate and inclusive definition than NAFLD. Like the former name NAFLD, MAFLD, as a manifestation of multiple system metabolic disorders involving the liver, has certain heterogeneity in its pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, pathological changes and natural outcomes. We found that there is a delicate dynamic balance among intestinal microflora, metabolites and host immune system to maintain a healthy intestinal environment and host health. On the contrary, this imbalance is related to diseases such as MAFLD. However, there are no clear studies on how dietary nutrients affect the intestinal environment and participate in the pathogenesis of MAFLD. This review summarizes the interactions among dietary nutrients, intestinal microbiota and MAFLD in an attempt to provide evidence for the use of dietary supplements to regulate liver function in patients with MAFLD. These dietary nutrients influence the development and progression of MAFLD mainly through the hepatic-intestinal axis by altering dietary energy absorption, regulating bile acid metabolism, changing intestinal permeability and producing ethanol. Meanwhile, the nutrients have the ability to combat MAFLD in terms of enriching abundance of intestinal microbiota, reducing Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and promoting abundance of beneficial gut microbes. Therefore, family therapy with MAFLD using a reasonable diet could be considered.

The Impact of Instant Coffee and Decaffeinated Coffee on the Gut Microbiota and Depression-Like Behaviors of Sleep-Deprived Rats

Objective

Based on our previous research, chronic paradoxical sleep deprivation (PSD) can cause depression-like behaviors and microbial changes in gut microbiota. Coffee, as the world’s most popular drink for the lack of sleep, is beneficial to health and attention and can eliminate the cognitive sequelae caused by poor sleep. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of coffee and decaffeinated coffee on PSD rats.

Research Design and Methods

A total of 32 rats were divided into four groups: control group, PSD model group, conventional coffee group, and decaffeinated coffee group. Behavioral tests, including sucrose preference test, open field test, forced swimming test, and tail suspension test, as well as biochemical detection for inflammatory and antioxidant indexes were performed. The effects of coffee and decaffeinated coffee on the gut microbiota of PSD rats were investigated by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Results

Coffee and decaffeinated coffee significantly improved the depression-like behaviors. Moreover, the serum levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha were decreased in both coffee and decaffeinated coffee groups, as well as the levels of superoxide dismutase and GSH-Px were increased. Gut microbiota analysis revealed that the abundance of S24-7, Lachnospiraceae, Oscillospira, and Parabacteroides were significantly increased in PSD rats, while the abundance of Akkermansia and Klebsiella were significantly decreased. After the treatment of coffee and decaffeinated coffee, the abundance of the above gut microbiota was all restored in different degrees. Coffee had relatively more significant effects on PSD-induced depressive-like behaviors, while the difference between coffee and decaffeinated coffee was not obvious in correcting the disorder of gut microbiota.

Conclusions

These findings have shown that both coffee and decaffeinated coffee are effective for sleep deprivation-induced depression-like behaviors and the dysbiosis of gut microbiota and indicated that caffeine may be not the only key substance of coffee for regulating gut microbiota.

Effect of a freeze-dried coffee solution in a high-fat diet-induced obesity model in rats: Impact on inflammatory response, lipid profile, and gut microbiota

Coffee beans contain high polyphenol content, which have the potential to modulate the intestinal microbiota, and possibly attenuate weight gain and the associated dyslipidemia. This study investigated the effect of freeze-dried coffee solution (FCS) consumption on physiological parameters, lipid profile, and microbiota of Wistar rats fed a high-fat diet (HF) or control diet (CT). FCS combined with a high-fat diet increased the fecal and cecal Bifidobacterium spp. population and decreased the cecal Escherichia coli population and intestinal Il1b mRNA level. Regardless of the diet type, FCS increased the serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C); however, it did not affect body weight, food intake, low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, fecal bile acids, and intestinal Il6 mRNA levels. The high-fat diet increased weight gain, hepatic cholesterol and triglycerides, fecal bile acids, and the fecal and cecal Lactobacillus spp. population, and reduced food intake, the fecal E. coli population, and intestinal Il6 mRNA level. The results suggest that FCS consumption exhibits positive health effects in rats fed a high-fat diet by increasing Bifidobacterium spp. population and HDL-C reverse cholesterol transport, and by reducing Il1b mRNA level. However, FCS administration at a dose of 0.39 g/100 g diet over an eight-week period was not effective in controlling food intake, and consequently, preventing weight gain in rats of high-fat diet-induced obesity model.

Effects of Coffee on the Gastro-Intestinal Tract: A Narrative Review and Literature Update

The objective of the present research was to review the state of the art on the consequences of drinking coffee at the different levels of the gastrointestinal tract. At some steps of the digestive process, the effects of coffee consumption seem rather clear. This is the case for the stimulation of gastric acid secretion, the stimulation of biliary and pancreatic secretion, the reduction of gallstone risk, the stimulation of colic motility, and changes in the composition of gut microbiota. Other aspects are still controversial, such as the possibility for coffee to affect gastro-esophageal reflux, peptic ulcers, and intestinal inflammatory diseases. This review also includes a brief summary on the lack of association between coffee consumption and cancer of the different digestive organs, and points to the powerful protective effect of coffee against the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. This review reports the available evidence on different topics and identifies the areas that would most benefit from additional studies.

Effect of Coffee against MPTP-Induced Motor Deficits and Neurodegeneration in Mice Via Regulating Gut Microbiota

The mechanisms of coffee against Parkinson disease (PD) remained incompletely elucidated. Numerous studies suggested that gut microbiota played a crucial role in the pathogenesis of PD. Here, we explored the further mechanisms of coffee against PD via regulating gut microbiota. C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneally injected with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) to induce a PD mouse model, then treated with coffee for 4 consecutive weeks. Behavioral tests consisting of the pole test and beam-walking test were conducted to evaluate the motor function of mice. The levels of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and α-synuclein (α-syn) were assessed for dopaminergic neuronal loss. The levels of occludin, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), Bcl-2, Bax, cleaved caspase-3, and cytochrome c (Cyt c) were detected. Moreover, microbial components were measured by 16s rRNA sequencing. Our results showed that coffee significantly improved the motor deficits and TH neuron loss, and reduced the level of α-syn in the MPTP-induced mice. Moreover, coffee increased the level of BBB tight junction protein occludin and reduced the level of astrocyte activation marker GFAP in the MPTP-induced mice. Furthermore, coffee significantly decreased the levels of proapoptotic proteins, including Bax, cleaved caspase-3, and cytochrome c, while it increased the level of antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2, consequently preventing MPTP-induced apoptotic cascade. Moreover, coffee improved MPTP-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis. These findings suggested that the neuroprotective effects of coffee on PD were involved in the regulation of gut microbiota, which might provide a novel option to elucidate the effects of coffee on PD.

Understanding the Role of the Gut Microbiome and Microbial Metabolites in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Current Evidence and Perspectives

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide. NAFLD begins as a relatively benign hepatic steatosis which can evolve to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH); the risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) increases when fibrosis is present. NAFLD represents a complex process implicating numerous factors—genetic, metabolic, and dietary—intertwined in a multi-hit etiopathogenetic model. Recent data have highlighted the role of gut dysbiosis, which may render the bowel more permeable, leading to increased free fatty acid absorption, bacterial migration, and a parallel release of toxic bacterial products, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and proinflammatory cytokines that initiate and sustain inflammation. Although gut dysbiosis is present in each disease stage, there is currently no single microbial signature to distinguish or predict which patients will evolve from NAFLD to NASH and HCC. Using 16S rRNA sequencing, the majority of patients with NAFLD/NASH exhibit increased numbers of Bacteroidetes and differences in the presence of Firmicutes, resulting in a decreased F/B ratio in most studies. They also present an increased proportion of species belonging to Clostridium, Anaerobacter, Streptococcus, Escherichia, and Lactobacillus, whereas Oscillibacter, Flavonifaractor, Odoribacter, and Alistipes spp. are less prominent. In comparison to healthy controls, patients with NASH show a higher abundance of Proteobacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, and Escherichia spp., while Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Akkermansia muciniphila are diminished. Children with NAFLD/NASH have a decreased proportion of Oscillospira spp. accompanied by an elevated proportion of Dorea, Blautia, Prevotella copri, and Ruminococcus spp. Gut microbiota composition may vary between population groups and different stages of NAFLD, making any conclusive or causative claims about gut microbiota profiles in NAFLD patients challenging. Moreover, various metabolites may be involved in the pathogenesis of NAFLD, such as short-chain fatty acids, lipopolysaccharide, bile acids, choline and trimethylamine-N-oxide, and ammonia. In this review, we summarize the role of the gut microbiome and metabolites in NAFLD pathogenesis, and we discuss potential preventive and therapeutic interventions related to the gut microbiome, such as the administration of probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, antibiotics, and bacteriophages, as well as the contribution of bariatric surgery and fecal microbiota transplantation in the therapeutic armamentarium against NAFLD. Larger and longer-term prospective studies, including well-defined cohorts as well as a multi-omics approach, are required to better identify the associations between the gut microbiome, microbial metabolites, and NAFLD occurrence and progression.

Diet and exercise in NAFLD/NASH: Beyond the obvious

Lifestyle represents the most relevant factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. Although a tremendous body of clinical and preclinical data on the effectiveness of dietary and lifestyle interventions exist, the complexity of this topic makes firm and evidence-based clinical recommendations for nutrition and exercise in NAFLD difficult. The aim of this review is to guide readers through the labyrinth of recent scientific findings on diet and exercise in NAFLD and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), summarizing "obvious" findings in a holistic manner and simultaneously highlighting stimulating aspects of clinical and translational research "beyond the obvious". Specifically, the importance of calorie restriction regardless of dietary composition and evidence from low-carbohydrate diets to target the incidence and severity of NAFLD are discussed. The aspect of ketogenesis-potentially achieved via intermittent calorie restriction-seems to be a central aspect of these diets warranting further investigation. Interactions of diet and exercise with the gut microbiota and the individual genetic background need to be comprehensively understood in order to develop personalized dietary concepts and exercise strategies for patients with NAFLD/NASH.

How does caffeine influence memory? Drug, experimental, and demographic factors

Caffeine is a widely used nootropic drug, but its effects on memory in healthy participants have not been sufficiently evaluated. Here we review evidence of the effects of caffeine on different types of memory, and the associated drug, experimental, and demographical factors. There is limited evidence that caffeine affects performance in memory tasks beyond improved reaction times. For drug factors, a dose-response relationship may exist but findings are inconsistent. Moreover, there is evidence that the source of caffeine can modulate its effects on memory. For experimental factors, past studies often lacked a baseline control for diet and sleep and none discussed the possible reversal of withdrawal effect due to pre-experimental fasting. For demographic factors, caffeine may interact with sex and age, and the direction of the effect may depend on the dose, individual tolerance, and metabolism at baseline. Future studies should incorporate these considerations, as well as providing continued evidence on the effect of caffeine in visuospatial, prospective, and implicit memory measures.

Coffee Consumption Modulates Amoxicillin-Induced Dysbiosis in the Murine Gut Microbiome

The microbiome is essential for host health, and perturbations resulting from antibiotic use can lead to dysbiosis and disease. Diet can be a powerful modulator of microbiome composition and function, with the potential to mitigate the negative effects of antibiotic use. Thus, it is necessary to study the impacts of diet and drug interactions on the gut microbiome. Coffee is a commonly consumed beverage containing many compounds that have the potential to affect the microbiome, including caffeine, polyphenols, and fiber. We supplemented mice with caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee in conjunction with amoxicillin, and used 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of fecal samples to investigate changes in diversity and composition of the murine fecal microbiome. We found that antibiotics, regardless of coffee supplementation, caused significant disruption to the murine fecal microbiome, enriching for Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, and Bacteroidetes, but reducing Firmicutes. While we found that coffee alone did not have a significant impact on the composition of the fecal microbiome, coffee supplementation did significantly affect relative abundance metrics in mice treated with amoxicillin. After caffeinated coffee supplementation, mice treated with amoxicillin showed a smaller increase in Proteobacteria, specifically of the family Burkholderiaceae. Correspondingly we found that in vitro, Burkholderia cepacia was highly resistant to amoxicillin, and that it was inhibited by concentrations of caffeine and caffeinated coffee comparable to levels of caffeine in murine ceca. Overall, this work shows that coffee, and possibly the caffeine component, can impact both the microbiome and microbiome members during antibiotic exposure.

Preparation, structural characteristics and physiological property of resistant starch

Starch is of the most important carbohydrates in human diets for maintaining normal body's energy metabolisms. However, due to the increased number of chronic diseases worldwide, the further study of the starch property in the dietary formula becomes essential for revealing its association with preventing or intervening the occurrence of such diseases as diabetes, obesity, intestinal diseases and even cardiovascular diseases. Considering that different starches demonstrate different digestion property based on their individual structural characteristics, in particular, the existence of resistant starch (RS) attracts much more interests recently because of its being a major producer of short-chain fatty acids followed by gut microbial fermentation. Furthermore, the understanding of the interaction between RS and microbiota in the gut and its substantial influence on the regulation of diabetes, kidney, disease hypertension and others is still being under investigated. Therefore, this chapter summarized the fine structure of starch, resistant starch structural characteristics, formation and preparation of resistant starches and their corresponding physiological property.

Effects of Coffee and Its Components on the Gastrointestinal Tract and the Brain-Gut Axis

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages consumed worldwide. Roasted coffee is a complex mixture of thousands of bioactive compounds, and some of them have numerous potential health-promoting properties that have been extensively studied in the cardiovascular and central nervous systems, with relatively much less attention given to other body systems, such as the gastrointestinal tract and its particular connection with the brain, known as the brain–gut axis. This narrative review provides an overview of the effect of coffee brew; its by-products; and its components on the gastrointestinal mucosa (mainly involved in permeability, secretion, and proliferation), the neural and non-neural components of the gut wall responsible for its motor function, and the brain–gut axis. Despite in vitro, in vivo, and epidemiological studies having shown that coffee may exert multiple effects on the digestive tract, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative effects on the mucosa, and pro-motility effects on the external muscle layers, much is still surprisingly unknown. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms of action of certain health-promoting properties of coffee on the gastrointestinal tract and to transfer this knowledge to the industry to develop functional foods to improve the gastrointestinal and brain–gut axis health.

The role of the gut microbiome and diet in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease, with a prevalence that is increasing in parallel with the global rise in obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The pathogenesis of NAFLD is complex and multifactorial, involving environmental, genetic and metabolic factors. The role of the diet and the gut microbiome is gaining interest as a significant factor in NAFLD pathogenesis. Dietary factors induce alterations in the composition of the gut microbiome (dysbiosis), commonly reflected by a reduction of the beneficial species and an increase in pathogenic microbiota. Due to the close relationship between the gut and liver, altering the gut microbiome can affect liver functions; promoting hepatic steatosis and inflammation. This review summarises the current evidence supporting an association between NAFLD and the gut microbiome and dietary factors. The review also explores potential underlying mechanisms underpinning these associations and whether manipulation of the gut microbiome is a potential therapeutic strategy to prevent or treat NAFLD.

Research on the mechanism of microwave-toughened starch on glucolipid metabolism in mice

Potato resistant starch (RS) was prepared by microwave-toughening treatment (MTT). This study investigated the beneficial effects of RS on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipidemia in C57BL/6J mice by evaluating changes in the gut microbiota. The mice were fed low-fat diet with corn starch, HFD with corn starch, HFD with potato starch (HFP), or HFD with RS (HFR) for 6 weeks. The results showed that the HFR group had lower body weight and total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels compared with the HFP group. Moreover, the brown adipose tissue levels of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP-1), β3-adrenoceptor (β3-AR), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), and PPAR-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) were increased. Our results showed that RS supplementation increased the Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio and the abundance of short-chain fatty acid-producing Allobaculum, Ruminococcus, and Blautia. Our data suggest that RS prepared by MTT may be used as a prebiotic agent to prevent gut dysbiosis and obesity-related chronic diseases, such as hyperlipidemia, and obesity.

Effects of regular and decaffeinated roasted coffee (Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora) extracts and bioactive compounds on in vitro probiotic bacterial growth

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of coffee species, roast degree and decaffeination on in vitro probiotic bacterial growth, and to identify the major coffee compounds responsible for such effects. Six C. arabica and C. canephora extracts (regular medium and dark roasted and decaffeinated medium roasted), and five bioactive compounds (chlorogenic acid, galactomannan, type 2 arabinogalactan, caffeine and trigonelline) were individually incorporated into a modified low-carbon broth medium-(mMRS), at different concentrations (0.5 to 1.5% soluble coffee and 0.05 to 0.8 mg mL-1 standard solutions). Inulin and fructooligosaccharides (FOS) were used as prebiotic references. MRS and mMRS were used as rich and poor medium controls, respectively. The growth of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG ATCC 53103-(GG), L. acidophilus LA-5-(LA), Bifidobacterium animalis DN-173010-(BA) and B. animalis subsp. lactis BB12-(BB12), as well as the growth inhibition of non-probiotic Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 were evaluated. Differences in growth between mMRS and treatments (Δlog CFU mL-1) were compared by ANOVA and Tukey's test, and considered when p ≤ 0.05. Overall, after 48 h incubation, the medium roasted arabica coffee extract increased the growth of GG, LA and BA (range: Δlog CFU mL-1 = 0.5 to 1.8), while the dark roasted arabica coffee extract increased BB12 growth (range: Δlog CFU mL-1 = 0.9 to 1.7), in a dose dependent manner. Improved performances of GG, LA and BA were promoted by higher polysaccharides and CGA concentrations, with better performance for Lactobacillus sp. The tested coffee bioactive compounds promoted the poor growth of BB12. Plain caffeine did not promote Bifidobacterium sp. growth and limited the growth of Lactobacillus sp. Regular C. arabica and C. canephora extracts inhibited the growth of E. coli, while the decaffeinated extracts promoted its growth. The present results show that coffee consumption can selectively improve the growth of probiotic strains, thus exerting a prebiotic effect, and show that coffee roasting and decaffeination affect this property and that different strains utilize different coffee components to grow.

Microbiota, epidemiological and nutritional factors related to ketoacidosis at the onset of type 1 diabetes

AIMS

The incidence of type 1 diabetes has increased over the last decades. The pathological pathway is not yet clear, even if genetic and environmental risk factors are known. An early diagnosis can avoid ketoacidosis and its complications. This work aims to discuss the determinants of both ketoacidosis at the onset and access by hospital emergency departments without a suspected diagnosis.

METHODS

An observational bi-centric prospective study was conducted in Northern Italy, on a paediatric population including Italian and migrant patients at the diabetes onset. Seventy-four type 1 diabetes patients, both Italian and migrant, were included in the study. Anthropometric, socio-economic, behavioural, clinical data were collected, and microbiota analyses were performed using stool samples.

RESULTS

Regular physical activity is associated with lower ketoacidosis incidence at onset (OR 0.33 95% CI 0.12-0.95 p < 0.05), as is higher blood vitamin D level (OR 0.92 95% CI 0.85-0.99 p < 0.05). Moreover, a higher weaning age (OR 0.49 95% CI 0.27-0.89 p < 0.05), higher vitamin D level (OR 0.90 95% CI 0.83-0.98 p < 0.05) and a higher level of Akkermansia muciniphila (OR 0.46 95% CI 0.25-0.87 p < 0.05) are associated factors to lower frequency of type 1 diabetes onset without a suspected diagnosis. Diabetes migrant status is not a risk factor for severe type 1 diabetes onset; on the other hand, some protective factors are significantly more diffused among Italians, such as regular sport activity and non-critical vitamin D levels.

CONCLUSION

Behavioural and nutritional data, such as microbiota bio-indicators, seem to be useful to identify an at-risk population to prevent ketoacidosis and its severe complications.

Risk factors for type 1 diabetes, including environmental, behavioural and gut microbial factors: a case-control study

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a common autoimmune disease that is characterized by insufficient insulin production. The onset of T1D is the result of gene-environment interactions. Sociodemographic and behavioural factors may contribute to T1D, and the gut microbiota is proposed to be a driving factor of T1D. An integrated preventive strategy for T1D is not available at present. This case-control study attempted to estimate the exposure linked to T1D to identify significant risk factors for healthy children. Forty children with T1D and 56 healthy controls were included in this study. Anthropometric, socio-economic, nutritional, behavioural, and clinical data were collected. Faecal bacteria were investigated by molecular methods. The findings showed, in multivariable model, that the risk factors for T1D include higher Firmicutes levels (OR 7.30; IC 2.26-23.54) and higher carbohydrate intake (OR 1.03; IC 1.01-1.05), whereas having a greater amount of Bifidobacterium in the gut (OR 0.13; IC 0.05 - 0.34) was a protective factor for T1D. These findings may facilitate the development of preventive strategies for T1D, such as performing genetic screening, characterizing the gut microbiota, and managing nutritional and social factors.

Health Effects of Coffee: Mechanism Unraveled?

The association of habitual coffee consumption with a lower risk of diseases, like type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic liver disease, certain cancer types, or with reduced all-cause mortality, has been confirmed in prospective cohort studies in many regions of the world. The molecular mechanism is still unresolved. The radical-scavenging and anti-inflammatory activity of coffee constituents is too weak to account for such effects. We argue here that coffee as a plant food has similar beneficial properties to many vegetables and fruits. Recent studies have identified a health promoting mechanism common to coffee, vegetables and fruits, i.e., the activation of an adaptive cellular response characterized by the upregulation of proteins involved in cell protection, notably antioxidant, detoxifying and repair enzymes. Key to this response is the activation of the Nrf2 (Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor-2) system by phenolic phytochemicals, which induces the expression of cell defense genes. Coffee plays a dominant role in that regard because it is the major dietary source of phenolic acids and polyphenols in the developed world. A possible supportive action may be the modulation of the gut microbiota by non-digested prebiotic constituents of coffee, but the available data are still scarce. We conclude that coffee employs similar pathways of promoting health as assumed for other vegetables and fruits. Coffee beans may be viewed as healthy vegetable food and a main supplier of dietary phenolic phytochemicals.

Coffee consumption and risk of colorectal cancer in the Cancer Prevention Study-II Nutrition Cohort

BACKGROUND

The association between coffee consumption and colorectal cancer risk generally appears null, but recent evidence suggests that risk may vary by coffee type. We examined associations of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee intake with colorectal cancer risk overall and with colon and rectum separately, among older U.S. men and women.

METHODS

In 1999, 47,010 men and 60,051 women with no previous diagnosis of cancer, aged 47-96 years, in the Cancer Prevention Study-II Nutrition Cohort completed a food frequency questionnaire that assessed caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee intake; consumption was updated in 2003. A total of 1829 colorectal cancer cases were verified through June 2015. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate multivariable-adjusted hazard rate ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusting for smoking history, alcohol, caffeinated/decaffeinated coffee intake (depending on the model), and other colorectal cancer risk factors.

RESULTS

Consumption of ≥2 cups/day of decaffeinated coffee, compared to no decaffeinated coffee, was associated with lower risk of overall colorectal cancer (HR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.69-0.96, P-trend = 0.04), colon cancer (HR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.69-0.99, P-trend = 0.05) and rectal cancer (HR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.40-0.99, P-trend = 0.17). Consumption of ≥2 cups/day of caffeinated coffee was associated with higher risk of rectal cancer (HR = 1.37, 95% CI: 0.99-1.89, P-trend = 0.04), but not with colorectal or colon cancer.

CONCLUSION

In this prospective study, higher intake of decaffeinated coffee was associated with lower risk of colorectal, colon, and rectal cancers. Further study on associations of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee with colorectal cancer risk by subsite is needed.

Long-Term Coffee Consumption is Associated with Fecal Microbial Composition in Humans

Coffee consumption has been related to a preventive effect against several non-transmissible pathologies. Due to the content of this beverage in phytochemicals and minerals, it has been proposed that its impact on health may partly depend on gut microbiota modulation. Our aim was to explore the interaction among gut microbiota, fecal short chain fatty acids, and health-related parameters in 147 healthy subjects classified according to coffee consumption, to deepen the association of the role of the (poly)phenol and alkaloid content of this beverage. Food daily intake was assessed by an annual food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Coffee consumption was categorized into three groups: non-coffee-consumers (0–3 mL/day), moderate consumers (3–45 mL/day) and high-coffee consumers (45–500 mL/day). Some relevant groups of the gut microbiota were determined by qPCR, and concentration of fecal short chain fatty acids by gas chromatography. Serum health related biomarkers were determined by standardized methods. Interestingly, a higher level of Bacteroides–Prevotella–Porphyromonas was observed in the high consumers of coffee, who also had lower levels of lipoperoxidation. Two groups of coffee-derived (poly)phenol, methoxyphenols and alkylphenols, and caffeine, among alkaloids, were directly associated with Bacteroides group levels. Thus, regular consumption of coffee appears to be associated with changes in some intestinal microbiota groups in which dietary (poly)phenol and caffeine may play a role.

Impact of smoking cessation, coffee and bread consumption on the intestinal microbial composition among Saudis: A cross-sectional study

The gut microbiota is often affected by the dietary and lifestyle habits of the host, resulting in a better efficacy that favors energy harvesting from the consumed food. Our objective was to characterize the composition of gut microbiota in adult Saudis and investigate possible association with lifestyle and dietary practices. Feces from 104 Saudi volunteers (48% males) were tested for microbiota by sequencing the V3-V4 region of bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA). For all participants, data were collected related to their lifestyle habits and dietary practices. The relative abundance (RA) of Fusobacteria was significantly higher in normal weight Saudis (P = 0.005, false discovery rate-FDR = 0.014). Individuals who consumed more coffee presented marginally significant more RA of Fusobacteria (P = 0.02, FDR = 0.20) in their gut microbiota compared to those reporting low or no coffee intake, but the RA of Fusobacteria was significantly higher in smokers compared to non-smokers (P = 0.009, FDR = 0.027). The RA of Fusobacteria was also significantly higher in those reporting daily consumption of bread (P = 0.005, FDR = 0.015). At the species level, the gut microbiota of people who consumed coffee was dominated by Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron followed by Phascolarctobacterium faecium and Eubacterium rectale. Similarly, the gut microbiota of smokers was also enriched by B. thetaiotaomicron and Lactobacillus amylovorus. Smoking cessation, bread and coffee consumption induce changes in the intestinal microbial composition of Saudis. This indicates the significance of diet and lifestyle practices in the determination of the composition of the gut microbiota, which could possibly lead later to changes in metabolic profile and weight.

The gut microbiome in Parkinson's disease: A culprit or a bystander?

In recent years, large-scale metagenomics projects such as the Human Microbiome Project placed the gut microbiota under the spotlight of research on its role in health and in the pathogenesis several diseases, as it can be a target for novel therapeutical approaches. The emerging concept of a microbiota modulation of the gut-brain axis in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders has been explored in several studies in animal models, as well as in human subjects. Particularly, research on changes in the composition of gut microbiota as a potential trigger for alpha-synuclein (α-syn) pathology in Parkinson's disease (PD) has gained increasing interest. In the present review, we first provide the basis to the understanding of the role of gut microbiota in healthy subjects and the molecular basis of the gut-brain interaction, focusing on metabolic and neuroinflammatory factors that could trigger the alpha-synuclein conformational changes and aggregation. Then, we critically explored preclinical and clinical studies reporting on the changes in gut microbiota in PD, as compared to healthy subjects. Furthermore, we examined the relationship between the gut microbiota and PD clinical features, discussing data consistently reported across studies, as well as the potential sources of inconsistencies. As a further step toward understanding the effects of gut microbiota on PD, we discussed the relationship between dysbiosis and response to dopamine replacement therapy, focusing on Levodopa metabolism. We conclude that further studies are needed to determine whether the gut microbiota changes observed so far in PD patients is the cause or, instead, it is merely a consequence of lifestyle changes associated with the disease. Regardless, studies so far strongly suggest that changes in microbiota appears to be impactful in pathogenesis of neuroinflammation. Thus, dysbiotic microbiota in PD could influence the disease course and response to medication, especially Levodopa. Future research will assess the impact of microbiota-directed therapeutic intervention in PD patients.

Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Diet and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk in US Men and Women

OBJECTIVES

Adherence to a healthy diet has been associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may have overlapping mechanisms with T2D, such as inflammation and insulin resistance. Thus, we examined the association between a previously developed T2D prevention dietary pattern and HCC risk.

METHODS

We followed 87,943 women in the Nurses' Health Study and 49,665 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study for up to 32 years. The dietary diabetes risk reduction score, which includes dietary glycemic index, cereal fiber, ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fats, trans fat, sugar-sweetened beverages, nuts, coffee, and red and processed meats, was obtained using validated food frequency questionnaires and updated every 4 years. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to calculate multivariable hazard ratios and confidence intervals (95% CIs).

RESULTS

During over 1.9 million person-years, a total of 160 incident HCC cases were identified. The dietary diabetes risk reduction score was associated with a lower risk of HCC (top vs bottom quartile; hazard ratio: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.34-0.95; Ptrend = 0.03). All the individual food and beverage items were associated with the risk of HCC in the expected direction, although the association was weaker than the overall dietary pattern.

DISCUSSION

Greater adherence to the T2D prevention diet was associated with a lower risk of developing HCC among US men and women. Further studies are needed to confirm and extend our findings.

Nonpharmacological Modulation of Chronic Inflammation in Parkinson's Disease: Role of Diet Interventions

Neuroinflammation is increasingly recognized as an important pathophysiological feature of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD). Recent evidence suggests that neuroinflammation in PD might originate in the intestine and the bidirectional communication between the central and enteric nervous system, the so-called "gut-brain axis," has received growing attention due to its contribution to the pathogenesis of neurological disorders. Diet targets mediators of inflammation with various mechanisms and combined with dopaminergic treatment can exert various beneficial effects in PD. Food-based therapies may favorably modulate gut microbiota composition and enhance the intestinal epithelial integrity or decrease the proinflammatory response by direct effects on immune cells. Diets rich in pre- and probiotics, polyunsaturated fatty acids, phenols including flavonoids, and vitamins, such as the Mediterranean diet or a plant-based diet, may attenuate chronic inflammation and positively influence PD symptoms and even progression of the disease. Dietary strategies should be encouraged in the context of a healthy lifestyle with physical activity, which also has neuroimmune-modifying properties. Thus, diet adaptation appears to be an effective additive, nonpharmacological therapeutic strategy that can attenuate the chronic inflammation implicated in PD, potentially slow down degeneration, and thereby modify the course of the disease. PD patients should be highly encouraged to adopt corresponding lifestyle modifications, in order to improve not only PD symptoms, but also general quality of life. Future research should focus on planning larger clinical trials with dietary interventions in PD in order to obtain hard evidence for the hypothesized beneficial effects.

Impact of carbon-based nutrient enhancement on biofiltration performance for drinking water treatment

Incorporation of a carbon-based nutrient enhancement strategy for drinking water biofiltration is an attractive option, especially for source waters which contain recalcitrant organics. This study compared biofilters that were operated in parallel and individually enhanced with amino acids (including alanine, phenylalanine, and tryptophan), inulin, and sucrose to increase biomass concentration and promote biodegradation of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the source water, including disinfection by-product (DBP) precursors. Biomass activity was characterized by measuring adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP), dissolved oxygen (DO) consumption, and through the use of laccase and esterase enzyme assays. Performance was evaluated in terms of headloss, turbidity, pH, DOC, UV₂₅₄, and DBP formation potential (DBP FP). The introduction of carbon-based nutrients significantly increased biomass activity, where ATP values peaked at 976 ng/g of filter media, 853 ng/g, and 513 ng/g for amino acids, inulin, and sucrose-spiked biofilters, respectively, while a non-spiked control only reached 104 ng/g. DO utilization by the enhanced biofilters was significantly higher than the control, with a strong correlation between ATP and DO uptake observed for all filters (R² > 0.74). Laccase and esterase enzyme activities of enhanced biofilters were also elevated (p > 0.05), suggesting greater biodegradation potential. Operational parameters such as headloss development and turbidity control were not impaired by carbon supplementation strategies or an increase in biomass concentration and activity. However, the enhancement strategy did not provide improvement in terms of source water carbon removal (DOC and UV₂₅₄) or DBP FP when treated filters were compared to a control.

Psychotropics and the Microbiome: a Chamber of Secrets…

The human gut contains trillions of symbiotic bacteria that play a key role in programming different aspects of host physiology in health and disease. Psychotropic medications act on the central nervous system (CNS) and are used in the treatment of various psychiatric disorders. There is increasing emphasis on the bidirectional interaction between drugs and the gut microbiome. An expanding body of evidence supports the notion that microbes can metabolise drugs and vice versa drugs can modify the gut microbiota composition. In this review, we will first give a comprehensive introduction about this bidirectional interaction, then we will take into consideration different classes of psychotropics including antipsychotics, antidepressants, antianxiety drugs, anticonvulsants/mood stabilisers, opioid analgesics, drugs of abuse, alcohol, nicotine and xanthines. The varying effects of these widely used medications on microorganisms are becoming apparent from in vivo and in vitro studies. This has important implications for the future of psychopharmacology pipelines that will routinely need to consider the host microbiome during drug discovery and development.

Parkinson's disease and the gastrointestinal microbiome

Recently, there has been a surge in awareness of the gastrointestinal microbiome (GM) and its role in health and disease. Of particular note is an association between the GM and Parkinson's disease (PD) and the realisation that the GM can act via a complex bidirectional communication between the gut and the brain. Compelling evidence suggests that a shift in GM composition may play an important role in the pathogenesis of PD by facilitating the characteristic ascending neurodegenerative spread of α-synuclein aggregates from the enteric nervous system to the brain. Here, we review evidence linking GM changes with PD, highlighting mechanisms supportive of pathological α-synuclein spread and intestinal inflammation in PD. We summarise existing patterns and correlations seen in clinical studies of the GM in PD, together with the impacts of non-motor symptoms, medications, lifestyle, diet and ageing on the GM. Roles of GM modulating therapies including probiotics and faecal microbiota transplantation are discussed. Encouragingly, alterations in the GM have repeatedly been observed in PD, supporting a biological link and highlighting it as a potential therapeutic target.

Consumption of decaffeinated coffee protects against the development of early non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: Role of intestinal barrier function

Background

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common liver diseases worldwide lacking universally accepted therapies. Studies suggest that coffee consumption is associated with a reduced risk of NAFLD; however, molecular mechanisms and ingredients involved remain to be fully understood. Here, we determined the effects of regular intake of decaffeinated coffee on the development of NAFLD in mice, and molecular mechanisms involved.

Methods

Female C57BL/6J mice (n = 6–7/ group) were pair-fed either a liquid control diet (C) or fat-, fructose- and cholesterol-rich diet (FFC) +/- decaffeinated coffee (DeCaf, 6 g/kg BW) for 4 days or 6 weeks. Indices of liver damage, hepatic inflammation and parameters of insulin resistance and intestinal permeability as well as nitric oxide system were determined.

Results

Early signs of insulin resistance and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) found after 6 weeks of FFC feeding were significantly lower in FFC+DeCaf-fed mice when compared to FFC-fed animals. Moreover, elevation of portal endotoxin levels and loss of tight junction proteins in proximal small intestine found in FFC-fed mice were significantly attenuated in FFC+DeCaf-fed animals. These beneficial effects of DeCaf were associated with a protection against the significant induction of inducible NO-synthase protein levels and 3-nitrotyrosine protein adducts found in proximal small intestine of FFC-fed mice. Similar protective effects of DeCaf were also found in mice fed the FFC diet short-term.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that protective effects of DeCaf on the development of NAFLD are at least in part related to maintaining intestinal barrier function.

•

decaffeinated coffee protects mice from the development of NAFLD.

•

decaffeinated coffee attenuated increased translocation of bacterial endotoxins.

•

decaffeinated coffee prevents diet-induced induction of iNOS in small intestine.

The Impact of Coffee and Its Selected Bioactive Compounds on the Development and Progression of Colorectal Cancer In Vivo and In Vitro

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages worldwide. Coffee contains bioactive compounds that affect the human body such as caffeine, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acids, trigonelline, diterpenes, and melanoidins. Some of them have demonstrated potential anticarcinogenic effects in animal models and in human cell cultures, and may play a protective role against colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the USA and other countries. Dietary patterns, as well as the consumption of beverages, may reduce the risk of CRC incidence. In this review, we focus on published epidemiological studies concerning the association of coffee consumption and the risk of development of colorectal cancer, and provide a description of selected biologically active compounds in coffee that have been investigated as potential cancer-combating compounds: Caffeine, caffeic acid (CA), chlorogenic acids (CGAs), and kahweol in relation to colorectal cancer progression in in vitro settings. We review the impact of these substances on proliferation, viability, invasiveness, and metastasis, as well as on susceptibility to chemo- and radiotherapy of colorectal cancer cell lines cultured in vitro.

Microbiota, Obesity and NAFLD

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an increasingly important cause of chronic liver disease globally. Similar to metabolic syndrome and obesity, NAFLD is associated with alternations in the gut microbiota and its related biological pathways. While the exact pathophysiology of NAFLD remains largely unknown, changes in intestinal inflammation, gut permeability, energy harvest, anaerobic fermentation and insulin resistance have been described. In this chapter, we review the relationship between the gut microbiota, obesity and NAFLD, and highlight potential ways to modify the gut microbiota to help managing NAFLD patients.