-
Journal of Ethnopharmacology Jun 2024Gastrodia elata Blume is a traditional Chinese medicine with the effects of improving the deficiency of the body and maintaining health, and polysaccharide (GEP) is one...
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Gastrodia elata Blume is a traditional Chinese medicine with the effects of improving the deficiency of the body and maintaining health, and polysaccharide (GEP) is one of the effective ingredients to play these activities of G. elata. Traditionally, G. elata is orally administered, so the activities of GEP are associated with digestive and intestinal metabolism. However, the digestive behavior of GEP and its effects on the human gut microbiota are unclear and need to be fully studied.
AIM OF THE STUDY
This study aimed to investigate the changes in structural characteristics of GEP during digestion and the related impacts of its digestive product on gut microbiota in human fecal fermentation, and to explain the beneficial mechanism of GEP on human health from the perspective of digestive characteristics and "gut" axis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The changes of reducing sugars, free monosaccharides and physicochemical properties of GEP during digestion were investigated by GPC, HPLC, FT-IR, CD, NMR, SEM, and TGA. Moreover, polysaccharide consumption, pH value changes, SCFAs production, and changes in gut microbiota during fermentation were also discussed.
RESULTS
During digestion of GEP, glucose was partially released causing a decrease in molecular weight, and a change in monosaccharide composition. In addition, the characteristics of GEP before and after digestion, including configuration, morphology, and stability, were different. The digestive product of GEP was polysaccharide (GEP-I), which actively participated in the fecal fermentation process. As the fermentation time increased, the utilization of GEP-I by the microbiota gradually increased. The abundance of probiotics such as Bifidobacterium, Collinsella, Prevotella, and Faecalibacterium was significantly increased, and the abundance of pathogenic Shigella, Dorea, Desulfovibrio, and Blautia was significantly inhibited, thereby suggesting that GEP has the potential to maintain human health through the "gut" axis. In addition, the beneficial health effects of GEP-I have also been observed in the influence of microbial metabolites. During the fermentation of GEP-I, the pH value gradually decreased, and the contents of beneficial metabolites such as acetic acid, propionic acid, and caproic acid significantly increased.
CONCLUSION
The structure of GEP changed significantly during digestion, and its digestive product had the potential to maintain human health by regulating gut microbiota, which may be one of the active mechanisms of GEP.
Topics: Humans; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Gastrodia; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Plant Extracts; Polysaccharides; Fermentation; Digestion
PubMed: 38521425
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118064 -
Preventive Veterinary Medicine May 2024
Topics: Animals; Animal Diseases; Societies; Veterinary Medicine
PubMed: 38480088
DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2024.106174 -
BMC Microbiology Mar 2024Extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) represents a prevalent condition observed in preterm neonates, which poses potential adverse implications for both neonatal...
BACKGROUND
Extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) represents a prevalent condition observed in preterm neonates, which poses potential adverse implications for both neonatal development and long-term health outcomes. The manifestation of EUGR has been intricately associated with perturbations in microbial and metabolic profiles. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of the gut microbial network in early colonizers among preterm neonates with EUGR.
METHODS
Twenty-nine preterm infants participated in this study, comprising 14 subjects in the EUGR group and 15 in the normal growth (AGA) group. Meconium (D1) and fecal samples were collected at postnatal day 28 (D28) and 1 month after discharge (M1). Subsequently, total bacterial DNA was extracted and sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq system, targeting the V3-V4 hyper-variable regions of the 16S rRNA gene.
RESULTS
The outcomes of principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) and examination of the microbial network structure revealed distinctive developmental trajectories in the gut microbiome during the initial three months of life among preterm neonates with and without EUGR. Significant differences in microbial community were observed at the D1 (P = 0.039) and M1 phases (P = 0.036) between the EUGR and AGA groups, while a comparable microbial community was noted at the D28 phase (P = 0.414). Moreover, relative to the AGA group, the EUGR group exhibited significantly lower relative abundances of bacteria associated with secretion of short-chain fatty acids, including Lactobacillus (P = 0.041) and Parabacteroides (P = 0.033) at the D1 phase, Bifidobacterium at the D28 phase, and genera Dysgonomonas (P = 0.042), Dialister (P = 0.02), Dorea (P = 0.042), and Fusobacterium (P = 0.017) at the M1 phase.
CONCLUSION
Overall, the present findings offer crucial important insights into the distinctive gut microbial signatures exhibited by earlier colonizers in preterm neonates with EUGR. Further mechanistic studies are needed to establish whether these differences are the cause or a consequence of EUGR.
Topics: Infant; Infant, Newborn; Humans; Infant, Premature; Gestational Age; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Birth Weight
PubMed: 38461289
DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03234-3 -
International Journal of Biological... Apr 2024This study investigated the in vitro fermentation characteristics of different structural types of Canna edulis resistant starch (RS). RS3 was prepared through a double...
Structure properties of Canna edulis RS3 (double enzyme hydrolysis) and RS4 (OS-starch and cross-linked starch): Influence on fermentation products and human gut microbiota.
This study investigated the in vitro fermentation characteristics of different structural types of Canna edulis resistant starch (RS). RS3 was prepared through a double enzyme hydrolysis method, and RS4 (OS-starch and cross-linked starch) was prepared using octenyl succinic anhydride and sodium trimetaphosphate/sodium tripolyphosphate, respectively. The RS3 and RS4 samples were structurally analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction analysis. This was followed by in vitro fermentation experiments. The results revealed microstructure differences in the two groups of starch samples. Compared to native starch, RS3 and RS4 exhibited a lower degree of order and endothermic energy, with lower crystallinity (RS3: 29.59 ± 1.11 %; RS4 [OS-starch]: 28.01 ± 1.32 %; RS4 [cross-linked starch]: 30.44 ± 1.73 %) than that in native starch (36.29 ± 0.89 %). The RS content was higher in RS3 (63.40 ± 2.85 %) and RS4 (OS-starch: 71.21 ± 1.28 %; cross-linked starch: 74.33 ± 0.643 %) than in native starch (57.71 ± 2.95 %). RS3 and RS4 exhibited slow fermentation rates, promoting the production of short-chain fatty acids. RS3 and cross-linked starch significantly increased the production of acetate and butyrate. Moreover, RS3 significantly promoted the abundance of Lactobacillus, while OS-starch and cross-linked starch significantly enhanced the abundance of Dorea and Coprococcus, respectively. Hence, the morphological structure and RS content of the samples greatly influenced the fermentation rate. Moreover, the different varieties of RS induced specific gut microbial regulation. Hence, they show potential applications in functional foods for tailored gut microbiota management.
Topics: Humans; Starch; Fermentation; Hydrolysis; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Fatty Acids, Volatile; Resistant Starch; Polyphosphates
PubMed: 38458281
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130700 -
Digestive Diseases and Sciences Apr 2024Previous studies showed that patients with Severe IBS respond better to fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) than do those with Moderate IBS. (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Previous studies showed that patients with Severe IBS respond better to fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) than do those with Moderate IBS.
AIMS
The present study aimed to determine the effects of the transplant dose, route of administering it and repeating FMT on this difference.
METHODS
This study included 186 patients with IBS randomized 1:1:1 into groups with a 90-g transplant administered once to the colon (LI), once to the duodenum (SI), or twice to the distal duodenum twice (repeated SI). The patients provided a fecal sample and were asked to complete three questionnaires at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months after FMT. The fecal bacteria composition and Dysbiosis index were analyzed using 16 S rRNA gene PCR DNA amplification/probe hybridization covering regions V3-V9.
RESULTS
There was no difference in the response rates between severe IBS and moderate IBS for SI and repeated SI at all observation intervals after FMT. In the LI group, the response rate at 3 months after FMT was higher for moderate IBS than for severe IBS. The levels of Dorea spp. were higher and those of Streptococcus salivarius subsp. Thermophilus, Alistipes spp., Bacteroides and Prevotella spp., Parabacteroides johnsoni and Parabacteroides spp. were lower in moderate IBS than in severe IBS.
CONCLUSIONS
There was no difference in the response to FMT between severe and moderate IBS when a 90-g transplant was administered to the small intestine. The difference in the bacterial profile between severe and moderate IBS may explain the difference in symptoms between these patients. ( www.
CLINICALTRIALS
gov : NCT04236843).
Topics: Humans; Duodenum; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation; Feces; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 38446309
DOI: 10.1007/s10620-024-08369-x -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2024Diarrheal acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) seriously affects the quality of life of patients. In this study, we analyzed the differences in the intestinal...
Diarrheal acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) seriously affects the quality of life of patients. In this study, we analyzed the differences in the intestinal microbiota among healthy individuals, AIDS patients without diarrhea and AIDS patients with diarrhea through high-throughput sequencing. The microbial diversity in the intestines of patients in the AIDS diarrhea group was significantly increased, and after treatment with Xielikang, the intestinal microbial diversity returned to the baseline level. At the phylum level, compared those in to the healthy (ZC) and AIDS non diarrhea (FN) groups, the relative abundances of Bacteroidetes and Verrucomirobia in the AIDS diarrhea (FA) group before treatment were significantly increased, while the relative abundance of Firmicutes was significantly decreased. Similarly, compared with those in the FA group, the relative abundances of Bacteroidea and Firmicutes in the AIDS diarrhea (FB) group after treatment were significantly increased, while the relative abundance of Firmicutes was significantly decreased after treatment. Additionally, there was no significant difference between the ZC and FN groups. At the genus level, compared with those in the ZC group, the relative abundance of and in the FA group was significantly increased, while the relative abundances of and was significantly decreased compared to that in the ZC group. After treatment with Xielikang, the relative abundance of and in the FB group were significantly decreased, while the relative abundances of and were significantly increased than those in the FA group; moreover, there was no significant difference between the ZC and FN groups. The functional prediction results showed that the ketodeoxyoctonate (Kdo) transfer to lipid IVA III and the superpathway of N-acetylglucosamine pathways in the AIDS diarrhea group were significantly altered. The correlation analysis results showed that was positively correlated with inflammatory factors, while and were negatively correlated with inflammatory factors. The composition and function of the intestinal microbiota changed significantly in AIDS diarrhea patients, which affected the immune function of the host. The Xielikang capsule modulated the composition of the intestinal microbiota in AIDS diarrhea patients and thus improved immune function and reduced diarrheal symptoms.
PubMed: 38435694
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1346955 -
BMC Cardiovascular Disorders Mar 2024Recent studies have indicated an association between intestinal flora and lipids. However, observational studies cannot indicate causality. In this study, we aimed to...
AIMS
Recent studies have indicated an association between intestinal flora and lipids. However, observational studies cannot indicate causality. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potentially causal relationships between the intestinal flora and blood lipids.
METHODS
We performed a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the causal relationship between intestinal flora and blood lipids. Summary statistics of genome-wide association studies (GWASs) for the 211 intestinal flora and blood lipid traits (n = 5) were obtained from public datasets. Five recognized MR methods were applied to assess the causal relationship with lipids, among which, the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) regression was used as the primary MR method. A series of sensitivity analyses were performed to test the robustness of the causal estimates.
RESULTS
The results indicated a potential causal association between 19 intestinal flora and dyslipidemia in humans. Genus Ruminococcaceae, Christensenellaceae, Parasutterella, Terrisporobacter, Parabacteroides, Class Erysipelotrichia, Family Erysipelotrichaceae, and order Erysipelotrichales were associated with higher dyslipidemia, whereas genus Oscillospira, Peptococcus, Ruminococcaceae UCG010, Ruminococcaceae UCG011, Dorea, and Family Desulfovibrionaceae were associated with lower dyslipidemia. After using the Bonferroni method for multiple testing correction, Only Desulfovibrionaceae [Estimate = -0.0418, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.9362-0.9826, P = 0.0007] exhibited stable and significant negative associations with ApoB levels. The inverse MR analysis did not find a significant causal effect of lipids on the intestinal flora. Additionally, no significant heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy for IVs was observed in the analysis.
CONCLUSION
The study suggested a causal relationship between intestinal flora and dyslipidemia. These findings will provide a meaningful reference to discover dyslipidemia for intervention to address the problems in the clinic.
Topics: Humans; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Genome-Wide Association Study; Mendelian Randomization Analysis; Atherosclerosis; Dyslipidemias
PubMed: 38431594
DOI: 10.1186/s12872-024-03804-3 -
The American Journal of Clinical... May 2024The health benefits of the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) have been linked to the presence of beneficial gut microbes and related metabolites. However, its impact on the... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of 1-year lifestyle intervention with energy-reduced Mediterranean diet and physical activity promotion on the gut metabolome and microbiota: a randomized clinical trial.
BACKGROUND
The health benefits of the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) have been linked to the presence of beneficial gut microbes and related metabolites. However, its impact on the fecal metabolome remains poorly understood.
OBJECTIVES
Our goal was to investigate the weight-loss effects of a 1-y lifestyle intervention based on an energy-reduced MedDiet coupled with physical activity (intervention group), compared with an ad libitum MedDiet (control group), on fecal metabolites, fecal microbiota, and their potential association with cardiovascular disease risk factors.
METHODS
A total of 400 participants (200 from each study group), aged 55-75 y, and at high cardiovascular disease risk, were included. Dietary and lifestyle information, anthropometric measurements, blood biochemical parameters, and stool samples were collected at baseline and after 1 y of follow-up. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to profile endogenous fecal metabolites, and 16S amplicon sequencing was employed to profile the fecal microbiota.
RESULTS
Compared with the control group, the intervention group exhibited greater weight loss and improvement in various cardiovascular disease risk factors. We identified intervention effects on 4 stool metabolites and subnetworks primarily composed of bile acids, ceramides, and sphingosines, fatty acids, carnitines, nucleotides, and metabolites of purine and the Krebs cycle. Some of these were associated with changes in several cardiovascular disease risk factors. In addition, we observed a reduction in the abundance of the genera Eubacterium hallii group and Dorea, and an increase in alpha diversity in the intervention group after 1 y of follow-up. Changes in the intervention-related microbiota profiles were also associated with alterations in different fecal metabolite subnetworks and some cardiovascular disease risk factors.
CONCLUSIONS
An intervention based on an energy-reduced MedDiet and physical activity promotion, compared with an ad libitum MedDiet, was associated with improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors, potentially through modulation of the fecal microbiota and metabolome. This trial was registered at https://www.isrctn.com/ as ISRCTN89898870 (https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN89898870).
Topics: Humans; Diet, Mediterranean; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Middle Aged; Male; Female; Aged; Exercise; Metabolome; Feces; Life Style; Cardiovascular Diseases
PubMed: 38428742
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.02.021 -
Indian Journal of Gastroenterology :... Feb 2024Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic inflammatory gut disorders, majorly classified as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The complex, multifactorial... (Review)
Review
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic inflammatory gut disorders, majorly classified as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The complex, multifactorial etiopathogenesis of IBD involves genetic predisposition, environmental cues, aberrant mucosal immune response and a disturbed gut microbiota. Epidemiological trends, studies in gnotobiotic mice models and genome-wide association studies, identifying genes involved in microbial handling, together mount evidence in support of the gut microbiota playing a pivotal role in IBD pathogenesis. Both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are characterized by severe dysbiosis of the gut microbiome, marked by an expansion of detrimental taxa and concomitant depletion of beneficial members. IBD is characterized by reduction in abundances of bacterial genera involved in production of short-chain fatty acids, bio-transformations of bile acids and synthesis of indole-based tryptophan compounds such as Faecalibacterium, Ruminococcus, Coprococcus, Dorea, Parabacteroides, Eubacterium, Oscillibacter and Prevotella and elevation in members of phyla Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. This imbalance not only results in exaggerated immune signaling towards the microbial antigens, but also results in an altered metabolomic milieu that triggers additional inflammatory cascades. The present review provides insights into the bacterial dysbiosis observed across different intestinal sites and their metabolomic imprints participating in IBD.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Colitis, Ulcerative; Crohn Disease; Dysbiosis; Genome-Wide Association Study; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Bacteria
PubMed: 38374283
DOI: 10.1007/s12664-024-01541-1 -
American Journal of Reproductive... Feb 2024Currently, there is a variety of evidence linking the gut microbiota to changes in sex hormones. In contrast, the causal relationship between SHBG, a carrier of sex...
PROBLEM
Currently, there is a variety of evidence linking the gut microbiota to changes in sex hormones. In contrast, the causal relationship between SHBG, a carrier of sex hormones, and the gut microbiota is unclear.
METHOD OF STUDY
Bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was used to detect the causal effect between SHBG and the gut microbiome. Summary statistics of genome-wide association studies (GWASs) for the gut microbiome and SHBG were obtained from public datasets. Inverse-variance weighting (IVW), weighted median, weighted mode, MR-Egger and simple mode methods were used to operate the MR analysis. F-statistics and sensitivity analyses performed to evaluate bias and reliability.
RESULTS
When we set gut microbiome as exposure and SHBG as outcome, we identified nine causal relationships. In males, Coprobacter (PIVW = 2.01 × 10 ), Ruminococcus2 (PIVW = 3.40 × 10 ), Barnesiella (PIVW = 2.79 × 10 ), Actinobacteria (PIVW = 3.25 × 10 ) and Eubacterium fissicatena groups (PIVW = 3.64 × 10 ) were associated with lower SHBG levels; Alphaproteobacteria (PIVW = 1.61 × 10 ) is associated with higher SHBG levels. In females, Lachnoclostridium (PIVW = 9.75 × 10 ) and Defluviitaleaceae UCG011 (PIVW = 3.67 × 10 ) were associated with higher SHBG levels; Victivallaceae (PIVW = 2.23 × 10 ) was associated with lower SHBG levels. According to the results of reverse MR analysis, three significant causal effect of SHBG was found on gut microbiota. In males, Dorea (PIVW = 4.17 × 10 ) and Clostridiales (PIVW = 4.36 × 10 ) were associated with higher SHBG levels. In females, Lachnoclostridium (PIVW = 7.44 × 10 ) was associated with higherr SHBG levels. No signifcant heterogeneity of instrumental variables or horizontal pleiotropy was found in bidirectional two-sample MR analysis.
CONCLUSIONS
This study may provide new insights into the causal relationship between the gut microbiome and sex hormone-binding protein levels, as well as new treatment and prevention strategies for diseases such as abnormal changes in sex hormones.
Topics: Female; Male; Humans; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Genome-Wide Association Study; Mendelian Randomization Analysis; Reproducibility of Results; Gonadal Steroid Hormones
PubMed: 38356386
DOI: 10.1111/aji.13824