Abstract
Dietary intervention with plant protein is one of the main methods that is used to lessen the symptoms of malnutrition. Supplementary soy protein to undernourished weaning rats for 6 weeks significantly increased their body weight gain. After the intervention, the level of total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) was restored to 1,512.7 μg/g, while the level was only 637.1 μg/g in the 7% protein group. The amino acids (valine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, and tryptophan) increased in the colon, and vitamin B6 metabolism was significantly influenced in undernourished rats. The tryptophan and glycine-serine-threonine pathways were elevated, leading to an increase in the level of tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) in the serum. In addition, the relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and Lactobacillus increased, while Enterococcus and Streptococcus decreased compared to undernourished rats. Overall, soy protein improved the growth of rats with malnutrition in early life by regulating gut microbiota and metabolites in the colon and serum.
Highlights
In 2018, stunting affected an estimated 21.9% of children under five, worldwide [1]
Our results demonstrated that the levels of Insulin-like growth factor1 (IGF-1) and Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE 2) in low protein group (LPG) was statistically decreased in the serum, but the levels were restored after the intake of soy protein and casein
Our research demonstrated a closer association between the decrease of gut microbiota and the downregulation of tryptophan metabolism in the LPG, while supplementary soy protein to undernourished rats regulated intestinal diversity and upregulated the tryptophan metabolism
Summary
In 2018, stunting affected an estimated 21.9% of children under five (or 149 million), worldwide [1]. Some researchers demonstrated that bacteria in younger healthy children dominated their malnutrition, which suggests that the growth of the intestinal flora did not keep up with the development of the body [3]. Bacteria, such as Streptococcus and Enterococcus dominated in the intestines of undernourished children and were defined as signs of immature intestines [4]. Proteins were utilized by mature healthy intestinal microbes and produced short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) to regulate tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in serum These metabolites regulate host metabolism, appetite, and mood [5]. There are limited studies on the correlation between serum metabolites and malnutrition
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