Beneficial Role of Fruits, Their Juices, and Freeze-Dried Powders on Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Related Dysbiosis.

Maria Rosaria Perri,Giancarlo Statti,Ludovica Zicarelli,Claudia-Crina Toma,Daniele Basta,Filomena Conforti,Mariangela Marrelli,Carmen Romano

doi:10.3390/plants11010004

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of complex chronic inflammatory conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract. It is linked to a number of genetic and environmental factors able to perturb the immune-microbiome axis. Diet is the most investigated variable both for its role in the etiology of IBD and for its beneficial potential in the treatment of the symptoms. Dietary products may influence intestinal inflammation through different mechanisms of action, such as the modulation of inflammatory mediators, the alteration of gene expression, changes in gut permeability, and modifications in enteric flora composition. A consisting number of studies deal with the link between nutrition and microbial community, and particular attention is paid to plant-based foods. The effects of the dietary intake of different fruits have been investigated so far. This review aims to present the most recent studies concerning the beneficial potential of fruit consumption on human gut microbiota. Investigated plant species are described, and obtained results are presented and discussed in order to provide an overview of both in vitro and in vivo effects of fruits, their juices, and freeze-dried powders.

Highlights

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), mainly including ulcerative colitis (UC) andChron’s disease (CD), represents a cluster of chronic, multifactorial, incurable pathologies with a low rate of mortality [1]
The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the studies concerning the potential beneficial effects of fruits on gut microbiota and IBD (Figure 1)
A number of studies focusing on the potential beneficial effects of vegetable foods, both plant-derived dietary fibers and plant phytochemicals, on gut microbiota [48,49,133]

Summary

Introduction

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), mainly including ulcerative colitis (UC) andChron’s disease (CD), represents a cluster of chronic, multifactorial, incurable pathologies with a low rate of mortality [1]. Almost a year passes from the recognition of the first symptoms to the diagnosis of the disease itself; the course of this pathology is unpredictable It depends on the medication and patient response to treatments. Surgery is the last chance, and often, it can be correlated with complications Drugs such as anti-TNF agents and vedolizumab have been recently introduced for IBD therapy, allowing to both reduce corticosteroid use and increase response and remission rate. Other drugs, such as azathioprine plus infliximab, act synergistically, are effective in suppressing immune cell activation and gut inflammation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) in the intestinal tract cooperate to tissue homeostasis, intestinal cell differentiation, maintenance of the intestinal barrier function: research is aimed at using them as potential biomarkers able to make a diagnosis and to predict both the course of pathology and the response to treatment [2]

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Methods

Conclusion