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Nutrients Jul 2023Emerging science shows that probiotic intake may impact stress and mental health. We investigated the effect of a 6-week intervention with (1 × 10 CFU/daily) on... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Emerging science shows that probiotic intake may impact stress and mental health. We investigated the effect of a 6-week intervention with (1 × 10 CFU/daily) on stress-related psychological and physiological parameters in 45 healthy adults with mild-to-moderate stress using a randomized, placebo-controlled, two-arm, parallel, double-blind design. The main results showed that supplementation with the probiotic significantly reduced the perceived stress and improved the subjective sleep quality score compared to placebo. Comparing the two groups, momentary subjective assessments concomitant to the Maastricht Acute Stress Test revealed a lower amount of pain experience in the probiotic group and a higher amount of relief at the end of the procedure in the placebo group, reflected by higher scores in the positive affect state. The awakening of the salivary cortisol response was not affected by the intervention, yet the reduction observed in the salivary cortisol stress response post-intervention was higher in the placebo group than the probiotic group. Multivariate analysis further indicated that a reduction in perceived stress correlated with a reduction in anxiety, in depression, and in the cortisol awakening response after the 6-week intervention. This exploratory trial provides promising insights into to reduce perceived stress in a healthy population and supports the potential of nutritional solutions including probiotics to improve mental health.
Topics: Humans; Adult; Hydrocortisone; Bifidobacterium; Probiotics; Bifidobacterium longum; Stress, Psychological; Double-Blind Method
PubMed: 37513541
DOI: 10.3390/nu15143122 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2023Strategies to stabilize and support overall infant health by increasing the number of in the infant gut are of interest, but few studies have systematically addressed... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Strategies to stabilize and support overall infant health by increasing the number of in the infant gut are of interest, but few studies have systematically addressed this issue. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of use in infants using meta-analysis.
METHODS
We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews, and SinoMed for publications until 27 July 2022. The main outcomes of interest were weight gain, risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and adverse events. Two authors independently performed study screening, risk of bias assessment, and data extraction. Outcome data were extracted from each included study and combined using mean difference (MD) or risk ratio (RR) and finally combined using a fixed-effect model or random-effect model.
RESULTS
A total of 4481 relevant studies were identified, of which 15 were found to be eligible for randomized controlled trials and were included in the meta-analysis. The combined extracted data showed that the intervention group containing had a significantly lower risk of NEC (RR = 0.539, 95% CI: 0.333, 0.874) compared to the control group. There was no statistical difference between the intervention and control groups regarding weight gain (MD = 0.029, 95% CI: -0.032, 0.090), the occurrence of adverse events (RR = 0.986, 95% CI: 0.843, 1.153), and serious adverse events (RR = 0.881, 95% CI: 0.493, 1.573).
CONCLUSIONS
may significantly reduce the risk of NEC in infants as well as being safe; thus, further research evidence is needed on whether there is a benefit on weight gain.
PubMed: 38137255
DOI: 10.3390/foods12244451 -
International Journal of Molecular... Aug 2023Melanin produced by melanocytes protects our skin against ultraviolet (UV) radiation-induced cell damage and oxidative stress. Melanin overproduction by hyperactivated...
Melanin produced by melanocytes protects our skin against ultraviolet (UV) radiation-induced cell damage and oxidative stress. Melanin overproduction by hyperactivated melanocytes is the direct cause of skin hyperpigmentary disorders, such as freckles and melasma. Exploring natural whitening agents without the concern of toxicity has been highly desired. In this study, we focused on a strain, ZJ1, isolated from a Chinese centenarian, and we evaluated the anti-melanogenic activity of the distinctive extracts of ZJ1. Our results demonstrated that whole lysate (WL) and bacterial lysate (BL) of ZJ1 ferments efficiently reduce α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-induced melanin production in B16-F10 cells as well as the melanin content in zebrafish embryos. BL and WL downregulate melanogenesis-related gene expression and indirectly inhibit intracellular tyrosinase activity. Furthermore, they both showed antioxidant activity in a menadione-induced zebrafish embryo model. Our results suggest that ZJ1 fermentation lysates have application potential as therapeutic reagents for hyperpigmentary disorders and whitening agents for cosmetics.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Antioxidants; Bifidobacterium longum; Bleaching Agents; Centenarians; East Asian People; Hyperpigmentation; Melanins; Zebrafish; Aged, 80 and over
PubMed: 37628988
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612810 -
Nutrients Aug 2023The fermentation and quality characteristics of yogurt were investigated according to the inoculation concentration of . The total sugar content of yogurt decreased as...
The fermentation and quality characteristics of yogurt were investigated according to the inoculation concentration of . The total sugar content of yogurt decreased as the fermentation time increased, and with an increased concentration of treatment the fermentation time decreased rapidly. As fermentation progressed, the lactose content decreased rapidly at the beginning and gradually decreased as the pH decreased. Depending on the treatment concentration, the lactose content varied from 0.29 ± 0.01 to 0.47 ± 0.01% and was 0.5% or less in all experimental groups. The experimental group inoculated with 0.0015% of displayed the best results in all categories, including pH, total acidity, lactic acid content, solid non-fat content, and total lactic acid bacteria count, which are factors that determine the quality of yogurt. In summary, the experimental group inoculated with 0.0015% of was determined to be the highest quality yogurt.
PubMed: 37571428
DOI: 10.3390/nu15153490 -
International Journal of Molecular... May 2018Over the past decade, a variety of lactic acid bacteria have been commercially available to and steadily used by consumers. However, recent studies have shown that some...
Over the past decade, a variety of lactic acid bacteria have been commercially available to and steadily used by consumers. However, recent studies have shown that some lactic acid bacteria produce toxic substances and display properties of virulence. To establish safety guidelines for lactic acid bacteria, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)/World Health Organization (WHO) has suggested that lactic acid bacteria be characterized and proven safe for consumers’ health via multiple experiments (e.g., antibiotic resistance, metabolic activity, toxin production, hemolytic activity, infectivity in immune-compromised animal species, human side effects, and adverse-outcome analyses). Among the lactic acid bacteria, and species are probiotic strains that are most commonly commercially produced and actively studied. BGN4 and BORI have been used in global functional food markets (e.g., China, Germany, Jordan, Korea, Lithuania, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam) as nutraceutical ingredients for decades, without any adverse events. However, given that the safety of some newly screened probiotic species has recently been debated, it is crucial that the consumer safety of each commercially utilized strain be confirmed. Accordingly, this paper details a safety assessment of BGN4 and BORI via the assessment of ammonia production, hemolysis of blood cells, biogenic amine production, antimicrobial susceptibility pattern, antibiotic resistance gene transferability, PCR data on antibiotic resistance genes, mucin degradation, genome stability, and possession of virulence factors. These probiotic strains showed neither hemolytic activity nor mucin degradation activity, and they did not produce ammonia or biogenic amines (i.e., cadaverine, histamine or tyramine). BGN4 and BORI produced a small amount of putrescine, commonly found in living cells, at levels similar to or lower than that found in other foods (e.g., spinach, ketchup, green pea, sauerkraut, and sausage). BGN4 showed higher resistance to gentamicin than the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) cut-off. However, this paper shows the gentamicin resistance of BGN4 was not transferred via conjugation with ATCC 4356, the latter of which is highly susceptible to gentamicin. The entire genomic sequence of BGN4 has been published in GenBank (accession no.: CP001361.1), documenting the lack of retention of plasmids capable of transferring an antibiotic-resistant gene. Moreover, there was little genetic mutation between the first and 25th generations of BGN4. Tetracycline-resistant genes are prevalent among strains; BORI has a (W) gene on its chromosome DNA and has also shown resistance to tetracycline. However, this research shows that its tetracycline resistance was not transferred via conjugation with AGBG1, the latter of which is highly sensitive to tetracycline. These findings support the continuous use of BGN4 and BORI as probiotics, both of which have been reported as safe by several clinical studies, and have been used in food supplements for many years.
Topics: Ammonia; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bifidobacterium bifidum; Bifidobacterium longum; Biogenic Amines; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Hemolysis; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Virulence Factors
PubMed: 29747442
DOI: 10.3390/ijms19051422 -
Journal of Inflammation Research 2023During () infection, infected erythrocytes are sequestered in gut tissues through microvascular circulation, leading to dysbiosis. This study aimed to investigate the...
PURPOSE
During () infection, infected erythrocytes are sequestered in gut tissues through microvascular circulation, leading to dysbiosis. This study aimed to investigate the effect of () and () administration on the parasitemia level, gut microbiota composition, expression of cluster of differentiation 103 (CD103) in intestinal dendritic and T regulatory cells (T reg), plasma interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) levels in infected mice.
METHODS
was inoculated intraperitoneally. Infected mice were randomly divided into 5 groups and treated with either , or the combination of both for 5 days before up to 6 days post-infection (p.i). The control group was treated with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), while uninfected mice were used as negative control. Levels of CD103 and forkhead box P3 (FoxP3) expression were measured by direct immunofluorescense, while plasma IFN-γ and TNF-α level were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
RESULTS
All treated groups showed an increase in parasitemia from day 2 to day 6 p.i, which was significant at day 2 p.i (p = 0.001), with the group receiving displaying the lowest degree of parasitemia. Significant reduction in plasma IFN-γ and TNF-α levels was observed in the group receiving (p = 0.022 and p = 0.026, respectively). The CD103 and FoxP3 expression was highest in the group receiving (p = 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively).
CONCLUSION
showed the best protective effect against infection by reducing the degree of parasitemia and modulating the gut immunity. This provides a basis for further research involving probiotic supplementation in immunity modulation of infectious diseases.
PubMed: 37006809
DOI: 10.2147/JIR.S400782 -
MSystems Oct 2022Bifidobacterium longum subsp. is a prevalent beneficial bacterium that colonizes the human neonatal gut and is uniquely adapted to efficiently use human milk...
Bifidobacterium longum subsp. is a prevalent beneficial bacterium that colonizes the human neonatal gut and is uniquely adapted to efficiently use human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) as a carbon and energy source. Multiple studies have focused on characterizing the elements of HMO utilization machinery in B. longum subsp. ; however, the regulatory mechanisms governing the expression of these catabolic pathways remain poorly understood. A bioinformatic regulon reconstruction approach used in this study implicated NagR, a transcription factor from the ROK family, as a negative global regulator of gene clusters encoding lacto--biose/galacto--biose (LNB/GNB), lacto--tetraose (LNT), and lacto--neotetraose (LNnT) utilization pathways in B. longum subsp. This conjecture was corroborated by transcriptome profiling upon genetic inactivation and experimental assessment of binding of recombinant NagR to predicted DNA operators. The latter approach also implicated acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), a universal intermediate of LNT and LNnT catabolism, and its phosphorylated derivatives as plausible NagR transcriptional effectors. Reconstruction of NagR regulons in various lineages revealed multiple potential regulon expansion events, suggesting evolution from a local regulator of GlcNAc catabolism in ancestral bifidobacteria to a global regulator controlling the utilization of mixtures of GlcNAc-containing host glycans in B. longum subsp. and Bifidobacterium bifidum. The predominance of bifidobacteria in the gut of breastfed infants is attributed to the ability of these bacteria to metabolize human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). Thus, individual HMOs such as lacto--tetraose (LNT) and lacto--neotetraose (LNnT) are considered promising prebiotics that would stimulate the growth of bifidobacteria and confer multiple health benefits to preterm and malnourished children suffering from impaired (stunted) gut microbiota development. However, the rational selection of HMO-based prebiotics is hampered by the incomplete knowledge of regulatory mechanisms governing HMO utilization in target bifidobacteria. This study describes NagR-mediated transcriptional regulation of LNT and LNnT utilization in Bifidobacterium longum subsp. . The elucidated regulatory network appears optimally adapted to simultaneous utilization of multiple HMOs, providing a rationale to add HMO mixtures (rather than individual components) to infant formulas. The study also provides insights into the evolutionary trajectories of complex regulatory networks controlling carbohydrate metabolism in bifidobacteria.
Topics: Infant; Infant, Newborn; Female; Child; Humans; Bifidobacterium; Milk, Human; Prebiotics; Oligosaccharides; Polysaccharides; Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis
PubMed: 36094076
DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00343-22 -
Nutrients Sep 2023Obesity has emerged as one of the most prevalent chronic diseases worldwide. Our study was conducted to investigate the anti-obese potential of novel probiotic subsp....
Obesity has emerged as one of the most prevalent chronic diseases worldwide. Our study was conducted to investigate the anti-obese potential of novel probiotic subsp. FB3-14 (FB3-14) and the underlying molecular mechanisms in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. The results demonstrated that an 8-week FB3-14 intervention significantly suppressed the HFD-induced body and fat weight gain and abnormal alterations of the serum lipid parameter, restoring the levels of cholesterol (4.29 mmol/L) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (3.42 mmol/L). FB3-14 treatment also attenuated adipocyte expansion, hepatic injury, and low-grade systemic inflammation and restored the expressions of lipid-metabolism-related genes, including , , and . Furthermore, FB3-14 was observed to reduce the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio in obese mice; increase the abundance of , , , and ; and upregulate G protein-coupled receptor41 associated with higher levels of butyric acid. These results indicate the protective effectiveness of FB3-14 in HFD-driven obesity and gut microbiota disorders, highlighting the promising potential of FB3-14 as a functional nutrition supplement.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Diet, High-Fat; Obesity; Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis; Butyrates; Cholesterol; Bacteroidetes; Mice, Inbred C57BL
PubMed: 37836387
DOI: 10.3390/nu15194104 -
Nutrients Apr 2022The kynurenine pathway (KP) is abnormal in autistic patients and model animals. According to studies on the brain-gut axis, probiotics can help ameliorate the metabolic...
The kynurenine pathway (KP) is abnormal in autistic patients and model animals. According to studies on the brain-gut axis, probiotics can help ameliorate the metabolic abnormalities of the KP in patients and model animals with neurological diseases. This study was aimed at evaluating the ability of () CCFM077 to enhance the gut microbiome and KP metabolism and regulate the neurotransmitter levels and neuroinflammation of autistic rats. The KP metabolism of autistic rats was significantly disordered and significantly related to the regulation of neurotransmitter (excitation and inhibition) and neuroglia states. CCFM1077 could effectively alleviate autistic-like behaviours (repetitive stereotyped behaviour, learning and memory ability, and despair mood) and regulate the KP metabolism in the periphery system (gut and blood) and brain. In particular, CCFM1077 could significant regulate the quinolinic acid (QUIN) level in the brain and markedly regulate glutamic acid (Glu) and Glu/γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in the brain while alleviating microglia activity in the cerebellum. Through a correlation analysis, the QUIN level in the brain was strongly related with autistic-like behaviours and neurotransmitter levels (GABA and Glu). The QUIN level may thus be a potential therapeutic marker for treating autism through the intestinal and neural pathways.
Topics: Animals; Autistic Disorder; Bifidobacterium longum; Glutamic Acid; Humans; Kynurenine; Neuroinflammatory Diseases; Neurotransmitter Agents; Quinolinic Acid; Rats; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
PubMed: 35458177
DOI: 10.3390/nu14081615 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2022has been widely administrated orally as probiotics to prevent pathogen colonization and modulate the gut microbiome balance. Endostatin is an endogenous inhibitor of...
has been widely administrated orally as probiotics to prevent pathogen colonization and modulate the gut microbiome balance. Endostatin is an endogenous inhibitor of angiogenesis and has been shown to inhibit tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. At present, the combination of endostatin and chemotherapeutic drugs has been regarded as a promising antitumor treatment strategy. In this study, we selected a safe strain of as a delivery system to transport endostatin to the gastrointestinal tract and explored their combined effect on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colitis-associated cancer. The results indicated that relieved dextran sulfate sodium-induced body weight loss, diarrhea, colon shortening, and epithelium damage. Long-term oral administration of significantly decreased tumor formation rate, tumor number, and tumor size. Moreover, the effect of on gut microbiota dysbiosis was also confirmed by 16S rRNA sequencing analysis. The levels of potentially beneficial bacteria, such as , , , and , were increased in the group compared to the model and groups. Meanwhile, levels of potentially pathogenic bacteria including , , and were decreased. Taken together, these results suggested that oral administration of recombinant strain may be a promising therapeutic strategy for IBD and colitis-associated cancer.
PubMed: 35847065
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.927277