Impact of the gut microbiome on health impacts of Haskap berries: study protocol for a randomized control trial.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a global epidemic complex and will cause serious metabolic comorbidities without treatment. A prevention strategy for MetS development has been proposed to modulate gut microbiota by probiotic administration to improve intestinal dysbiosis and benefit the host. Lacticaseibacillus casei LC2W has exhibited positive effects in preventing colitis and anti-hypertension in vivo. However, the effect of L. casei LC2W on subjects at high risk of MetS is unknown. Here, a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study was conducted on 60 subjects with high risk of MetS, and the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity and possible pathways of L. casei LC2W were inferred from the correlation analysis with gut microbiome composition, function, and clinical phenotypic indicators. The results showed that oral administration of L. casei LC2W could exert significant benefits on weight control, glucose and lipid metabolism, inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters, and SCFA production, as well as modulate the composition of gut microbiota. The relative abundance of Lacticaseibacillus, Bifidobacterium, Dorea, and Blautia was enriched, and their interaction with other gut microbes was strengthened by oral administration of L. casei LC2W, which was beneficial in ameliorating gut inflammation, promoting glucose and lipids degradation pathways, thus alleviated MetS. The present study confirmed the prevention effects of L. casei LC2W towards MetS from aspects of clinical outcomes and microflora modulation, providing an alternative strategy for people at high risk of MetS.Trial registration: The study was proactively registered in ClinicalTrial.gov with the registration number of ChiCTR2000031833 on April 09, 2020.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12602-024-10312-5.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting health promotion behavior among workers with high risk of metabolic syndrome. This study was based on the planned behavior theory. Methods: The participants were 167 workers at high risk of metabolic syndrome. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Surveyed variables were attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, intention, and health promotion behavior. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and hierarchical regression analysis with SPSS/WIN 22.0. Results: Perceived behavioral control affected the intention of health promotion behavior among the workers with high risk of metabolic syndrome. It explained 62% of variance in the intention of health promotion behavior (F=40.09, p<.001). Perceived behavioral control and occupation affected health promotion behavior among the risk workers with high risk of metabolic syndrome. The two factors explained 16% of variance in health promotion behavior (F=4.95, p<.001). Conclusion: The findings of this studysuggest that perceived behavioral control is the only factor affecting health promotion behavior when the theory of planned behavior was applied. Therefore, intervention programs for improving health promotion behavior should be focused on strengthening perceived behavioral contro.

The involvement of the gut microbiota in metabolic disorders, and the ability of whole grains to affect both host metabolism and gut microbial ecology, suggest that some benefits of whole grains are mediated through their effects on the gut microbiome. Nutritional studies that assess the effect of whole grains on both the gut microbiome and human physiology are needed. We conducted a randomized cross-over trial with four-week treatments in which 28 healthy humans consumed a daily dose of 60 g of whole-grain barley (WGB), brown rice (BR), or an equal mixture of the two (BR+WGB), and characterized their impact on fecal microbial ecology and blood markers of inflammation, glucose and lipid metabolism. All treatments increased microbial diversity, the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, and the abundance of the genus Blautia in fecal samples. The inclusion of WGB enriched the genera Roseburia, Bifidobacterium and Dialister, and the species Eubacterium rectale, Roseburia faecis and Roseburia intestinalis. Whole grains, and especially the BR+WGB treatment, reduced plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) and peak postprandial glucose. Shifts in the abundance of Eubacterium rectale were associated with changes in the glucose and insulin postprandial response. Interestingly, subjects with greater improvements in IL-6 levels harbored significantly higher proportions of Dialister and lower abundance of Coriobacteriaceae. In conclusion, this study revealed that a short-term intake of whole grains induced compositional alterations of the gut microbiota that coincided with improvements in host physiological measures related to metabolic dysfunctions in humans.

BackgroundHeterozygous variants in GBA1 are the commonest genetic risk factor for Parkinson’s disease (PD), but penetrance is incomplete. GBA1 dysfunction can cause gastrointestinal disturbances and microbiome changes in preclinical models. Mounting evidence suggests that the microbiota–gut–brain axis is potentially implicated in PD pathogenesis. Whether the gut microbiome composition is influenced by host GBA1 genetics in heterozygosis has never been explored.ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate whether heterozygosity for the GBA1 pathogenic L444P variant can cause perturbations in gut microbiome composition.MethodsFaecal samples collected from GBA1L444P/WT and GBA1WT/WT mice at 3 and 6 months of age were analysed through shotgun metagenomic sequencing.ResultsNo differences in α- and β-diversities were detected between genotyped groups, at either time point. Overall, we found a little variation in the gut microbiome composition and functional potential between GBA1L444P/WT and GBA1WT/WT mice over time.ConclusionHost GBA1 genotype does not impact gut microbiome structure and composition in the presented GBA1L444P/WT mouse model. Studies investigating the effect of a second hit on gut physiology and microbiome composition could explain the partial penetrance of GBA1 variants in PD.

BackgroundClinical diagnosis of the metabolic syndrome is time-consuming and invasive. Convenient instruments that do not require laboratory or physical investigation would be useful in early screening individuals at high risk of metabolic syndrome. Examination of the autonomic function can be taken as a directly reference and screening indicator for predicting metabolic syndrome.Methodology and Principal FindingsThe EZSCAN test, as an efficient and noninvasive technology, can access autonomic function through measuring electrochemical skin conductance. In this study, we used EZSCAN value to evaluate autonomic function and to detect metabolic syndrome in 5,887 participants aged 40 years or older. The EZSCAN test diagnostic accuracy was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic curves. Among the 5,815 participants in the final analysis, 2,541 were diagnosed as metabolic syndrome and the overall prevalence was 43.7%. Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome increased with the elevated EZSCAN risk level (p for trend <0.0001). Moreover, EZSCAN value was associated with an increase in the number of metabolic syndrome components (p for trend <0.0001). Compared with the no risk group (EZSCAN value 0–24), participants at the high risk group (EZSCAN value: 50–100) had a 2.35 fold increased risk of prevalent metabolic syndrome after the multiple adjustments. The area under the curve of the EZSCAN test was 0.62 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.61–0.64) for predicting metabolic syndrome. The optimal operating point for the EZSCAN value to detect a high risk of prevalent metabolic syndrome was 30 in this study, while the sensitivity and specificity were 71.2% and 46.7%, respectively.Conclusions and SignificanceIn conclusion, although less sensitive and accurate when compared with the clinical definition of metabolic syndrome, we found that the EZSCAN test is a good and simple screening technique for early predicting metabolic syndrome.

The rising prevalence of metabolic syndrome among adolescents has not been effectively addressed by current campus-based health promotions. Using the Internet in these promotions may help health professionals achieve better healthcare management. The purpose of the present study was to explore the design requirements of an e-health management platform from the subjective perspective of adolescent girls who were at a high risk of metabolic syndrome. The findings may provide a reference for designing nursing interventions that more effectively promote healthly lifestyle habits to adolescents. This qualitative study employed a snowball approach and used a semi-structured interview guide to collect data. A total of 20 Taiwanese adolescent females who were at a high risk of metabolic syndrome, aged 16-20 years, able to speak Mandarin or Taiwanese, and willing to participate and to have their sessions tape-recorded were enrolled as participants and engaged individually in in-depth interviews. The constant comparative method was used to inductively analyze the interview data. Five main themes related to the e-health management platform emerged from the data. These themes included: an attractive and user-friendly website interface, access to reliable information and resources, provision of tailored health information, access to peer support, and self-monitoring and learning tools. The findings highlight the key design needs of an e-Health management platform from the perspective of adolescent girls who are at a high risk of metabolic syndrome. The identified themes may be addressed in future revisions / developments of these platforms in order to better address the needs of this vulnerable population and to effectively reduce the incidence of metabolic syndrome. The authors hope that the results of the present study may be used to provide better healthcare and support for adolescent girls with metabolic syndrome.

ObjectivesTo investigate the relationship between triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio and metabolic syndrome in the elderly population of China, and to determine the best critical value of TG/HDL-C in higher...

The aim of this study was to investigate the independent and joint associations of low cardiorespiratory fitness and lower-limb muscle strength with cardiometabolic risk in older adults. A total of 360 community-dwelling older adults aged 60-80 years participated in this cross-sectional study. Cardiometabolic risk was based on the diagnosis of Metabolic Syndrome and poor Ideal Cardiovascular Health according to the American Heart Association guidelines. Cardiorespiratory fitness and lower-limb muscle strength were estimated using the six-minute walk and the 30-second chair stand tests, respectively. Participants in the 20th percentile were defined as having low cardiorespiratory fitness and lower-limb muscle strength. Poisson's regression was used to determine the prevalence ratio (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of Metabolic Syndrome and poor Ideal Cardiovascular Health. Participants with low cardiorespiratory fitness alone and combined with low lower-limb muscle strength were similarly associated with a higher risk for Metabolic Syndrome (PR 1.27, 95% CI 1.09-1.48, and PR 1.32, 95% CI 1.10-1.58, respectively), and poor Ideal Cardiovascular Health (PR 1.76, 95% CI 1.25-2.47, and PR 1.65, 95% CI 1.19-2.28, respectively). Low lower-limb muscle strength alone was not associated with a higher risk for either Metabolic Syndrome or poor Ideal Cardiovascular Health (PR 1.23, 95% CI 0.81-1.87, and PR 1.11, 95% CI 0.89-1.37, respectively). Low cardiorespiratory fitness alone or combined with low lower-limb muscle strength, but not low lower-limb muscle strength alone, was associated with a higher cardiometabolic risk in older adults. The assessment of physical fitness may be a "window of opportunity" to identify youngest-old adults with a high cardiovascular disease risk.

We sought to examine whether parity is associated with higher incidence of metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women. We conducted a cross-sectional study on 4098 Korean postmenopausal women by using nationally representative data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010-2012. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to evaluate the relationship between parity and metabolic syndrome, with adjustment for potential confounding variables. The rate of metabolic syndrome was significantly higher with increasing number of parity, with dose-response relationship in univariate analysis (P <0.001). In addition, higher parity (≥3 live births) was associated with more prevalence of all components of metabolic syndrome compared with two live births (parity 2 vs 3 vs ≥4: 5.5 vs 12.1 and 14.4%, respectively; P < 0.001). However, after adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle and reproductive factors, we found that only higher parity was significantly associated with metabolic syndrome compared with two live births, and failed to show a dose-dependent relationship (parity 2 vs 3 vs ≥4: odds ratio 1 vs 1.404 vs 1.379, respectively; P = 0.043). We also proved that among the components of metabolic syndrome, only waist circumference had a significant positive relationship with parity in a multivariable adjusted model (parity 2 vs 3 vs ≥4: odds ratio 1 vs 1.559 vs 1.656, respectively; P < 0.001). Higher parity was independently associated with a higher risk of metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women.

BackgroundHeterozygous variants inGBA1are the commonest genetic risk factor for Parkinson disease (PD) but penetrance is incomplete.GBA1dysfunction can cause gastrointestinal disturbances and microbiome changes in preclinical models. Mounting evidence suggests that the microbiota-gut-brain axis is potentially implicated in PD pathogenesis. Whether the gut microbiome composition is influenced by hostGBA1genetics in heterozygosis has never been explored.ObjectivesTo evaluate whether heterozygosity for theGBA1pathogenic L444P variant can cause perturbations in gut microbiome composition.MethodsFaecal samples collected fromGBA1L444P/WTandGBA1WT/WTmice at 3 and 6 months of age were analysed through shotgun metagenomic sequencing.ResultsNo differences in α- and β-diversity were detected between genotyped groups, at either time points. Overall, we found a little variation of the gut microbiome composition and functional potential betweenGBA1L444P/WTandGBA1WT/WTmice over time.ConclusionHostGBA1genotype does not impact gut microbiome structure and composition in the presentedGBA1L444P/WTmouse model. Studies investigating the effect of a second hit on gut physiology and microbiome composition could explain the partial penetrance ofGBA1variants in PD.

This research topic aims to clarify the potential mechanisms underlying the gut-brain axis, focusing particularly on the enteric nervous system contribution in health and disease. We seek to uncover how disruptions in gut permeability and gut-brain signaling contribute to various neurological disorders by addressing gaps in the knowledge of gut microbiome dynamics, mucosal immunity, and their interplay with the ENS in neurodegenerative diseases like PD in particular. Recent advances in gut neuroimmunology and microbiome research offer encouraging opportunities for exploring these interactions. Four studies were selected for this topic as follows.Neurofunctional correlates of emotional dysregulation in adolescent Crohn's disease: a resting-state fMRI preliminary investigation. The authors studied the relationship between abnormal intrinsic brain function and emotional symptoms in adolescent Crohn's disease (CD) patients using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). The Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ), Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90), Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scans were used to evaluate 93 participants (40 adolescent CD patients and 53 healthy controls (HCs). Neuroimaging findings, clinical indicators, and psychometric measures were analyzed. Functional connectivity analysis revealed distorted patterns in specific brain areas, suggesting disease-specific hyperconnectivity in sensory-cognitive networks. The outcome of this study offers new insights into the neurobiological basis of emotional symptoms in adolescent CD patients, highlighting altered activity in temporal, frontal, and cerebellar regions. [1,2] Gut microbiota of patients with post-stroke depression in Chinese population: a systematic review and metaanalysis. Evidence of changes in the composition and function of the gut microbiota (GM) in post-stroke depression (PSD) patients is gradually accumulating. This study evaluated the relationship between PSD and GM based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) criteria. The authors searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane databases, Wangfang, VIP, CBM, and CNKI from the establishment of the database to April 17, 2024. Systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to investigate the differences of GM between patients with PSD spectrum and healthy controls (HC) or stroke spectrum. The outcome provides relevant information on the relative abundance of Bacteroidota, Fusobacteriota, Pseudomonadota and Bacillota in PSD patients and in the HC group, even at the family and genus levels. [3,4] Plasma exosomal miRNA expression and gut microbiota dysbiosis are associated with cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients differ from normally cognitive subjects regarding gut microbiota composition and expression profiles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in brain tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, and blood. This study explored the relationship between plasma exosomal microRNAs, gut microbiota, and cognitive impairment to provide insights into AD pathogenesis and treatment. A small sample of AD patients and subjects with normal cognition entered the study. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) allowed to evaluate cognitive function. High-throughput sequencing was used to identify differentially expressed miRNAs in plasma exosomes. Metagenomic sequencing detected potential differences in gut microbiota abundance. Interesting associations and differences were found in MMSE scores, the abundance of potential probiotics (Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Roseburia intestinalis and Roseburia inulinivorans) and specific exosomal miRNAs (miR-3120-3p, miR-6529-5p; miR-3120-3p, miR-6529-5p, miR-124-3p and miR-3120-3p) between the two groups. [5,6] Exploring the relationship between GBA1 host genotype and gut microbiome in the GBA1 L444P/WT mouse model: Implications for Parkinson disease pathogenesis. Heterozygous glucosylceramidase beta 1 (GBA1) variants are the most frequent genetic risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD), but penetrance is incomplete. GBA1 dysfunction was associated with gastrointestinal disturbances and microbiome changes in preclinical models. Growing evidence suggests that the microbiota-gut-brain axis may be involved in PD pathogenesis. Whether the host GBA1 genetics in heterozygosis influences gut microbiome composition has not been explored. The authors evaluated whether heterozygosity for the GBA1 pathogenic L444P variant could cause perturbations in gut microbiome composition. Based on their findings, they suggest that studies investigating the effect of a second hit on gut physiology and microbiome composition could explain the partial penetrance of GBA1 variants in PD. [7,8] Collectively, these contributions emphasize the critical role of gut neuroimmunology in modulating neurological and psychiatric health. By integrating advances in neuroimaging, microbiome science, and molecular profiling, this Research Topic underscores the ENS as a key mediator of gut-brain communication and highlights novel pathways for therapeutic exploration. The selected papers sketch an attractive systems map from the lumen to the ENS neural cells, implying that host genotype, exosomal signaling, and microbiome ecology in longitudinal designs will be pivotal for translation. In other words, the ENS may be the first interface and best model to study where neurology meets ecology.

Koalas, an Australian arboreal marsupial, depend on eucalypt tree leaves for their diet. They selectively consume only a few of the hundreds of available eucalypt species. Since the koala gut microbiome is essential for the digestion and detoxification of eucalypts, their individual differences in the gut microbiome may lead to variations in their eucalypt selection and eucalypt metabolic capacity. However, research focusing on the relationship between the gut microbiome and differences in food preferences is very limited. We aimed to determine whether individual and regional differences exist in the gut microbiome of koalas as well as the mechanism by which these differences influence eucalypt selection. Foraging data were collected from six koalas and a total of 62 feces were collected from 15 koalas of two zoos in Japan. The mitochondrial phylogenetic analysis was conducted to estimate the mitochondrial maternal origin of each koala. In addition, the 16S-based gut microbiome of 15 koalas was analyzed to determine the composition and diversity of each koala's gut microbiome. We used these data to investigate the relationship among mitochondrial maternal origin, gut microbiome and eucalypt diet selection. This research revealed that diversity and composition of the gut microbiome and that eucalypt diet selection of koalas differs among regions. We also revealed that the gut microbiome alpha diversity was correlated with foraging diversity in koalas. These individual and regional differences would result from vertical (maternal) transmission of the gut microbiome and represent an intraspecific variation in koala foraging strategies. Further, we demonstrated that certain gut bacteria were strongly correlated with both mitochondrial maternal origin and eucalypt foraging patterns. Bacteria found to be associated with mitochondrial maternal origin included bacteria involved in fiber digestion and degradation of secondary metabolites, such as the families Rikenellaceae and Synergistaceae. These bacteria may cause differences in metabolic capacity between individual and regional koalas and influence their eucalypt selection. We showed that the characteristics (composition and diversity) of the gut microbiome and eucalypt diet selection of koalas differ by individuals and regional origins as we expected. In addition, some gut bacteria that could influence eucalypt foraging of koalas showed the relationships with both mitochondrial maternal origin and eucalypt foraging pattern. These differences in the gut microbiome between regional origins may make a difference in eucalypt selection. Given the importance of the gut microbiome to koalas foraging on eucalypts and their strong symbiotic relationship, future studies should focus on the symbiotic relationship and coevolution between koalas and the gut microbiome to understand individual and regional differences in eucalypt diet selection by koalas.

Objective: We conducted this study to explore the effect of oral probiotic supplementation on hair density as a primary outcome in subjects with hair loss and at high risk of metabolic syndrome. The secondary objectives were to assess probiotic effects on skin barrier function,metabolic health and stress responses.Methods: We supplemented the diets of Chinese adults presenting with hair loss and high risk of metabolic syndrome (n = 26, male gender 38.5%, age = 33.6 ± 4.5 years) with a multi-strain probiotic formula at a dosage of 18.1 billion colony forming units (CFU) twice daily for 12 weeks. We compared the hair density, hair loss, anthropometrics measures, blood biochemistry markers, skin biophysical characteristics and stress-associated responses between baseline and the end of the trial.Results: After 12 weeks of probiotic supplementation, 96.2% of the study participants had improvement in hair density (median density level increased: 1; interquartile range: 1-2). Participants reported reduced hair loss both quantitatively and qualitatively. The majority (73.1%) of the participants reported apparent relief of scalp itching. Stratum corneum hydration and pH increased, while transepidermal water loss and sebum decreased on both scalp and facial skin. Body weight and body mass index decreased following probiotic consumption. Most components of glucose metabolism and the lipid profile were significantly better, with increases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and reductions in glucose, homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance, total cholesterol, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides. Inflammation and oxidative stress markers improved with increases in interferon-γ and superoxide dismutase, and reductions in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, interleukin-31 and malondialdehyde. No changes were observed in glycated hemoglobin, insulin, immunoglobulin E and interleukin-10 levels. Besides, perceived stress relieved in participants accompanied with improved sleep quality as well as better overall perception of life quality and health.Conclusion: Twice-daily supplementation with the test probiotic formula over a 12-weeks period may exert profound beneficial effects on hair growth, skin condition, glucose and lipid metabolism, and stress-associated psychological and physiological responses in participants presenting with hair loss and high risk of metabolic syndrome. This study has been registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100050498).Keywords: hair density, hair loss, metabolic syndrome, oral probiotic supplementation

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate factors that affect adherence in individuals at high risk of metabolic syndrome, with a focus on knowledge and attitude effect. Subjects and Methods: A sample of 900 high-risk individuals with metabolic syndrome was recruited in this cross-sectional study. During the study period, all participants filled in validated structured questionnaires to evaluate the adherence to different management options of metabolic syndrome, knowledge about the syndrome, and health-related attitude. Simple linear regression followed by multiple linear regression analysis were used to evaluate the effect of knowledge, attitude, and other factors on participants' adherence to both medications and lifestyle changes. Results: Of the 900 participants, 436 (48.4%) were nonadherent to medications and 813 (90.3%) were nonadherent to lifestyle changes. Increasing age (r = 0.140, p = 0.000), the presence of hypertension (r = 0.075, p = 0.036), and a more positive attitude toward health (r = 0.230, p = 0.000) were significantly associated with increasing adherence to medications. Higher educational level (r = 0.085, p = 0.023), higher knowledge score (r = 0.135, p = 0.001), and more positive attitude toward health (r = 0.183, p = 0.000) were found to significantly increase the adherence to lifestyle changes, while central obesity (r = −0.106, p = 0.003) was found to significantly decrease the adherence to lifestyle changes. Conclusion: Patients' knowledge about metabolic syndrome and attitude to health affected adherence rates in patients at high risk of metabolic syndrome. Hence, we suggest the need to incorporate patients' educational programs into current management of metabolic syndrome.

Protocol for a Pilot Study on the Gut Microbiome and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Latinx Emerging Adults in Miami, Florida