Health-promoting Bacteria Research Articles

Disclosing α-lactalbumin impact on the intestinal and vaginal microbiota of women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most widespread endocrinopathy affecting women of reproductive age with detrimental effects on life quality and health. Among several mechanisms involved in its aetiopathogenesis, recent studies have also postulated the involvement of the vaginal and intestinal microbiota in the development of this disorder. In this study, an accurate insight into the microbial changes associated with PCOS was performed through a pooled-analysis highlighting that this syndrome is characterized by intestinal and vaginal dysbiosis with a reduction of beneficial microorganisms and a higher proportion of potential pathogens. Based on this observation, we evaluated the ability of a milk-derived protein exerting positive outcomes in the management of PCOS, that is, α-lactalbumin (α-LA), to recover PCOS-related dysbiosis. Invitro experiments revealed that this protein improved the growth performances of members of two health-promoting bacterial genera, that is, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, depleted in both intestinal and vaginal microbiota of PCOS-affected women. In addition, α-LA modulated the taxonomic composition and growth performances of the microbial players of the complex intestinal and vaginal microbiota. Finally, an invivo pilot study further corroborated these observations. The oral administration of α-LA for 30 days to women with PCOS revealed that this protein may have a role in favouring the growth of health-promoting bacteria yet limiting the proliferation of potential pathogens. Overall, our results could pave the way to the use of α-LA as a valid compound with 'prebiotic effects' to limit/restore the PCOS-related intestinal and vaginal dysbiosis.

46 Feeding the weaned pig gut and beyond with non-nutritional additives

Abstract Weaning imposes simultaneous stress, resulting in reduced growth performance, increased susceptibility to diseases, and increased morbidity and mortality in weaned pigs. Weaning stress can induce negative changes in the intestine, including damaged intestinal integrity, disturbed digestive and absorptive capacity, increased intestinal oxidative stress, and microbial dysbiosis. Improving intestinal development and health is critically important for enhancing disease resistance and overall health of weaned pigs. This, in turn, can increase their survival rate during this vulnerable stage and improve their productive performance in later stages. A healthy gut may include, but is not limited to, several important features: a healthy proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells, an integrated gut barrier function, a preferable or balanced gut microbiota, and well-developed intestinal mucosa immunity. Burgeoning evidence suggests that many non-nutritional additives can enhance overall intestinal health and beyond by targeting one or several functions of the gut. However, the exact protective mechanisms may vary and are still not completely understood. For example, direct-fed microbials may confer health benefits on the host by producing antimicrobial products, regulating gut microbial profile or immunity, and/or enhancing gut barrier function. Non-digestible carbohydrates and prebiotics exhibit striking impacts on reshaping the composition of gut microbiota in the host by boosting the production of health-promoting bacteria. Phytochemicals, a large variety of secondary plant metabolites, have been known for their broad and promising biological properties, including anti-microbial, antioxidant, and immune-modulating activities. Several short chain fatty acids derivatives aim to target the upper gastrointestinal tract, where the major nutrients are digested and absorbed, to promote intestinal health of pigs. Moreover, butyrate and valerate glycerides exhibit strong in vitro antimicrobial effects against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F18, one of the dominant pathogens causing post-weaning diarrhea globally. There are more candidates in the list that have been used in weaned pigs and shown promising results on growth and health promotion. Therefore, increasing our current understanding of non-nutritional additives and their influences on intestinal function during weaning will facilitate the development of more dietary strategies that increase stress resilience of weaned pigs.

Gut Microbiota in the Progression of Type 2 Diabetes and the Potential Role of Exercise: A Critical Review.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is the predominant metabolic epidemic posing a major threat to global health. Growing evidence indicates that gut microbiota (GM) may critically influence the progression from normal glucose tolerance, to pre-diabetes, to T2D. On the other hand, regular exercise contributes to the prevention and/or treatment of the disease, and evidence suggests that a possible way regular exercise favorably affects T2D is by altering GM composition toward health-promoting bacteria. However, research regarding this potential effect of exercise-induced changes of GM on T2D and the associated mechanisms through which these effects are accomplished is limited. This review presents current data regarding the association of GM composition and T2D and the possible critical GM differentiation in the progression from normal glucose, to pre-diabetes, to T2D. Additionally, potential mechanisms through which GM may affect T2D are presented. The effect of exercise on GM composition and function on T2D progression is also discussed.

Impact of including two types of destoned olive cakes in pigs' diets on fecal bacterial composition and study of the relationship between fecal microbiota, feed efficiency, gut fermentation, and gaseous emissions.

The microbial population in the pig's gastrointestinal tract can be influenced by incorporating fibrous by-products into the diets. This study investigated the impact of including two types of dried olive cake (OC) in pigs' diets on fecal bacterial composition. The correlation between fecal microbiota and growth performance, nutrient digestibility, gut fermentation pattern and slurry gas emissions was also evaluated. Thirty male Pietrain x (Landrace x Large white) pigs (47.9 ± 4.21 kg) were assigned to three groups: a control group (C), a group fed a diet with 20% partially defatted OC (20PDOC), and a group fed a diet with 20% cyclone OC (20COC) for 21 days. Fecal samples collected before and after providing the experimental diets were analyzed for the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Pigs were weighed, and feed intake was recorded throughout the study. Potential ammonia and methane emissions from slurry were measured. No significant differences in alpha diversity indexes were found. The taxonomic analysis revealed that Firmicutes and Bacteroidota phyla were dominant at the phylum level across all groups. Differential abundance analysis using ALDEx showed significant differences among groups for various bacteria at the phylum, genus, and species levels at the end of the experiment. Pigs from 20PDOC and 20COC groups exhibited increased abundances of health-promoting bacteria, such as Plactomycetota at the phylum level and Allisonella and an unidentified genus from the Eggerthellaceae family at the genus level. These changes influenced short-chain fatty acids' (SCFA) concentration in slurries, leading to greater acetic, butyric, caproic and heptanoic acids in OC-fed groups, especially 20COC pigs. A volatility analysis revealed significant positive correlations (p < 0.05) between Uncultured_Bacteroidales and Unculured_Selenomonadaceae and energy digestibility. Monoglobus and Desulfovibrio showed a positive significant (p < 0.05) correlation with total SCFA, indicating a high impact on gut fermentation. However, growth performance parameters and potential gas emission displayed no significant correlations with a specific bacterial genus. In conclusion, our results suggest that OC inclusion into pig diets could positively modulate and contribute to the gut microbiota's favorable composition and functionality. Also, nutrient digestibility and gut fermentation patterns can be associated with specific microbial populations.

The Effect of Type 2 Resistant Starch and Indole-3-Propionic Acid on Ameliorating High-Fat-Diet-Induced Hepatic Steatosis and Gut Dysbiosis.

Owing to the interplay of genetic and environmental factors, obesity has emerged as a significant global public health concern. To gain enhanced control over obesity, we examined the effects of type 2 resistant starch (RS2) and its promoted microbial-derived metabolite, indole-3-propionic acid (IPA), on hepatic steatosis, antioxidant activity, and gut microbiota in obese mice. Neither RS2 nor low-dose IPA (20 mg kg-1) exhibited a reduction in body weight or improved glucose and lipid metabolism in post-obesity state mice continuously fed the high-fat diet (HFD). However, both interventions improved hepatic steatosis, with RS2 being more effective in all measured parameters, potentially due to changes in gut microbiota and metabolites not solely attributed to IPA. LC-MS/MS analysis revealed increased serum IPA levels in both RS2 and IPA groups, which positively correlated with Bifidobacterium and Clostridium. Moreover, RS2 exhibited a more significant restoration of gut dysbiosis by promoting the abundance of health-promoting bacteria including Faecalibaculum and Bifidobacterium. These findings suggest that the regulatory role of RS2 on tryptophan metabolism only partially explains its prebiotic activity. Future studies should consider increasing the dose of IPA and combining RS2 and IPA to explore their potential interventions in obesity.

Optimisation of dairy-based media using response surface modelling to increase yields of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus promoting an enhanced immune response

This study optimised biomass production of health-promoting bacteria by optimising cultivation media using design of experiments methodology. Screening of seven lactic acid bacteria were conducted, where Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LRH30 (L. rhamnosus LRH30) was selected as the most suitable candidate for further optimization. Response surface modelling was employed to optimise four dairy-based carbon sources: lactose, whey permeate (WP), demineralised whey (DW) and skim milk powder (SMP), in conjunction with yeast extract and peptone using a central composite design. SMP was identified as the best-suited carbon substrate for high biomass yields, with optimal media concentrations of 12.5 g L−1 lactose, 2.36 g L−1 yeast extract and 2.36 g L−1 peptone in shake flasks and later in batch bioprocess, resulting in biomass quantities of 6.5 g L−1. Additionally, the immunomodulatory effects of L. rhamnosus LRH30 were confirmed in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that showed a significant reduction of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α.

Impact of dietary carbohydrate, fat or protein restriction on the human gut microbiome: a systematic review.

Restriction of dietary carbohydrates, fat and/or protein is often used to reduce body weight and/or treat (metabolic) diseases. Since diet is a key modulator of the human gut microbiome, which plays an important role in health and disease, this review aims to provide an overview of current knowledge of the effects of macronutrient-restricted diets on gut microbial composition and metabolites. A structured search strategy was performed in several databases. After screening for inclusion and exclusion criteria, thirty-six articles could be included. Data are included in the results only when supported by at least three independent studies to enhance the reliability of our conclusions. Low-carbohydrate (<30 energy%) diets tended to induce a decrease in the relative abundance of several health-promoting bacteria, including Bifidobacterium, as well as a reduction in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels in faeces. In contrast, low-fat diets (<30 energy%) increased alpha diversity, faecal SCFA levels and abundance of some beneficial bacteria, including Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. There were insufficient data to draw conclusions concerning the effects of low-protein (<10 energy%) diets on gut microbiota. Although the data of included studies unveil possible benefits of low-fat and potential drawbacks of low-carbohydrate diets for human gut microbiota, the diversity in study designs made it difficult to draw firm conclusions. Using a more uniform methodology in design, sample processing and sharing raw sequence data could foster our understanding of the effects of macronutrient restriction on gut microbiota composition and metabolic dynamics relevant to health. This systematic review was registered at https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero as CRD42020156929.

Nutriose, a Dextrin-based Natural Polysaccharide Polymer with Beneficial Activities as a Candidate for Future Drug Delivery: A Review.

Nutriose is a dextrin-based soluble fiber prepared from starch. Cereals such as maize, wheat, and barley are the primary sources of nutrients for commercial production. Nutriose is resistant to digestion by human enzymes in the stomach and small intestine. It is mostly undamaged when it enters the colon after traveling through the digestive tract, where it generates shortchain fatty acids (SCFAs) as byproducts. These SCFAs, which include butyrate, propionate, and acetate, have a number of health advantages. They foster an environment in the colon that is advantageous for gut health-promoting bacteria like lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. Nutriose fermentation leads to a more balanced composition of the gut microbiota, which may have advantages for the immune system, better digestion, and increased nutrient absorption. As a result, nutriose is currently being utilized as a prebiotic. Several publications have previously demonstrated the impact of nutriose on stimulating gut mucosal immunity and boosting colonic fermentation and excretion in rats. Nanoformulations and nutrisomes have already been prepared and evaluated in recent years. A novel nutriose-based polymeric coating mix has already been tested as a potential colon-targeting material. As a natural polysaccharide, nutriose's possible uses in pharmaceuticals may increase in the near future. The purpose of this study is to critically analyze existing data to determine the potential of nutriose as a natural polymer for various drug delivery systems.

Lacticaseibacillus paracasei AD22 Stress Response in Brined White Cheese Matrix: In Vitro Probiotic Profiles and Molecular Characterization.

Functionalizing foods involve discovering and integrating new candidate health-promoting bacteria into the food matrix. This study aimed (i) to reveal the probiotic potential of autochthonous Lacticaseibacillus paracasei AD22 by a series of in vitro tests and molecular characterization and (ii) to evaluate its application to the matrix of brined white cheese, which is the most common cheese in Türkiye, in terms of survival and stress response. To evaluate in vitro probiotic characteristics, L. paracasei AD22 was exposed to functional, technological, and safety tests. Pilot scale production was conducted to integrate L. paracasei AD22 into the brined white cheese matrix. The expression levels of stress-related genes (dnaK, groES, ftsH, argH, and hsp20) were detected by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction to determine the transcriptional stress response during ripening. The presence of genes encoding stress-related proteins was determined by whole-genome sequence analysis using a subsystem approach; the presence of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes was determined by ResFinder4.1 and VirulenceFinder 2.0 databases. The BAGEL4 database determined the presence of bacteriocin clusters. L. paracasei AD22 was found to survive in pH 2 and medium with 12% NaCl and did not cause hemolysis. Adhesion of the strain to Caco2 cells was 76.26 ± 4.81% and it had coaggregation/autoaggregation properties. It was determined that L. paracasei AD22 exceeded 7 log cfu/g in the cheese matrix at the end of the ripening period. Total mesophilic aerobes decreased in the cheese inoculated with L. paracasei AD22 after the 45th day of ripening. While hsp20 and groES genes were downregulated during ripening, argH was upregulated. Both downregulation and upregulation were observed in dnaK and ftsH. Fold changes indicating the expression levels of dnaK, groES, ftsH, argH, and hsp20 genes were not statistically significant during ripening (p > 0.05). Whole-genome sequence profiles revealed that the strain did not contain antibiotic and virulence genes but bacteriocin clusters encoding Enterolysin A (Class III bacteriocin), Carnosine CP52 (class II bacteriocin), Enterocin X beta chain (Class IIc bacteriocin), and the LanT region. Subsystems approach manifested that the most functional part of the genomic distribution belonged to metabolism, protein processing, and stress response functions. The study findings highlight that L. paracasei AD22 will provide biotechnological innovation as a probiotic adjunct because it contains tolerance factors and probiotic characteristics to produce new functional foods.

Effect of Probiotic-Fortified Infant Formula on Infant Gut Health and Microbiota Modulation.

Compared to infant formula, breast milk is the best source of nutrition for infants; it not only improves the neonatal intestinal function, but also regulates the immune system and gut microbiota composition. However, probiotic-fortified infant formula may further enhance the infant gut environment by overcoming the limitations of traditional infant formula. We investigated the probiotic formula administration for one month by comparing 118 Korean infants into the following three groups: infants in each group fed with breast milk (50), probiotic formula (35), or placebo formula-fed group (33). Probiotic formula improved stool consistency and defecation frequency compared to placebo formula-fed group. The probiotic formula helped maintaining the level of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), which had remarkably decreased over time in placebo formula-fed infants (compared to weeks 0 and 4). Moreover, probiotic formula decreased the acidity of stool and considerably increased the butyrate concentration. Furthermore, the fecal microbiota of each group was evaluated at weeks 0 and 4. The microbial composition was distinct between each groups, and the abundance of health-promoting bacteria increased in the probiotic formula compared to the placebo formula-fed group. In summary, supplementation of probiotic infant formula can help optimize the infant gut environment, microbial composition, and metabolic activity of the microbiota, mimicking those of breast milk.

Cell-type-specific transcriptomics reveals that root hairs and endodermal barriers play important roles in beneficial plant-rhizobacterium interactions

Growth- and health-promoting bacteria can boost crop productivity in a sustainable way. Pseudomonas simiae WCS417 is such a bacterium that efficiently colonizes roots, modifies the architecture of the root system to increase its size, and induces systemic resistance to make plants more resistant to pests and pathogens. Our previous work suggested that WCS417-induced phenotypes are controlled by root cell-type-specific mechanisms. However, it remains unclear how WCS417 affects these mechanisms. In this study, we transcriptionally profiled five Arabidopsis thaliana root cell types following WCS417 colonization. We found that the cortex and endodermis have the most differentially expressed genes, even though they are not in direct contact with this epiphytic bacterium. Many of these genes are associated with reduced cell wall biogenesis, and mutant analysis suggests that this downregulation facilitates WCS417-driven root architectural changes. Furthermore, we observed elevated expression of suberin biosynthesis genes and increased deposition of suberin in the endodermis of WCS417-colonized roots. Using an endodermal barrier mutant, we showed the importance of endodermal barrier integrity for optimal plant-beneficial bacterium association. Comparison of the transcriptome profiles in the two epidermal cell types that are in direct contact with WCS417—trichoblasts that form root hairs and atrichoblasts that do not—implies a difference in potential for defense gene activation. While both cell types respond to WCS417, trichoblasts displayed both higher basal and WCS417-dependent activation of defense-related genes compared with atrichoblasts. This suggests that root hairs may activate root immunity, a hypothesis that is supported by differential immune responses in root hair mutants. Taken together, these results highlight the strength of cell-type-specific transcriptional profiling to uncover “masked” biological mechanisms underlying beneficial plant-microbe associations.

Targeting transportation of curcumin by soybean lipophilic protein nano emulsion: Improving its bioaccessibility and regulating intestinal microorganisms in mice

Curcumin is widely recognized for its essential role in human health but is limited by its poor solubility and low bioaccessibility. This study attempts to address these limitations by preparing a delivery system for curcumin using a stabilized emulsion from soybean lipophilic protein nanoparticles (SLP-NPs). The results show that the concentration of SLP-NPs had significant effects on droplet size, zeta potential and emulsion microstructure. Rheological analysis indicated that SLP-NPs emulsion exhibited a viscoelastic liquid structure marked by its shear-thinning behavior and a higher loss modulus compared to the storage modulus. Meanwhile, as a carrier of bioactive substances, SLP-NPs can encapsulate curcumin, and the encapsulation rate reached 77.13%. Stability experiment showed that curcumin soybean lipophilic protein nanoparticles emulsion (Cur-SLP) showed good storage stability. The simulated in vitro digestion assay showed that SLP-NPs embedding increased the bioaccessibility of curcumin (76.14%), thus allowing the targeted release of curcumin in the small intestine. In addition, the gut microflora plays a crucial role in health. Therefore, based on improving the bioaccessibility of curcumin, we innovatively explored the regulatory effect of Cur-SLP on mice intestinal flora and designed an in vivo experiment. In vivo experiments have shown that Cur-SLP regulates the gut microorganism of mice, leading to increased abundance of health-promoting bacteria (Bifidobacterium). Notably, Cur-SLP significantly reduced the proportion of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes. This study proves that SLP-NPs are an effective transport material for curcumin, providing an optimal choice for the application of hydrophobic active substances.

Maternal Psychosocial Stress Is Associated with Reduced Diversity in the Early Infant Gut Microbiome.

The developing infant gut microbiome is highly sensitive to environmental exposures, enabling its evolution into an organ that supports the immune system, confers protection from infection, and facilitates optimal gut and central nervous system function. In this study, we focus on the impact of maternal psychosocial stress on the infant gut microbiome. Forty-seven mother-infant dyads were recruited at the HEAL Africa Hospital in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Extensive medical, demographic, and psychosocial stress data were collected at birth, and infant stool samples were collected at six weeks, three months, and six months. A composite maternal psychosocial stress score was created, based on eight questionnaires to capture a diverse range of stress exposures. Full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences were generated. Infants of mothers with high composite stress scores showed lower levels of gut microbiome beta diversity at six weeks and three months, as well as higher levels of alpha diversity at six months compared to infants of low stress mothers. Longitudinal analyses showed that infants of high stress mothers had lower levels of health-promoting Lactobacillus gasseri and Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum at six weeks compared to infants of low stress mothers, but the differences largely disappeared by three to six months. Previous research has shown that L. gasseri can be used as a probiotic to reduce inflammation, stress, and fatigue, as well as to improve mental state, while B. pseudocatenulatum is important in modulating the gut-brain axis in early development and in preventing mood disorders. Our finding of reduced levels of these health-promoting bacteria in infants of high stress mothers suggests that the infant gut microbiome may help mediate the effect of maternal stress on infant health and development.

Impact of High Salt-Intake on a Natural Gut Ecosystem in Wildling Mice.

The mammalian holobiont harbors a complex and interdependent mutualistic gut bacterial community. Shifts in the composition of this bacterial consortium are known to be a key element in host health, immunity and disease. Among many others, dietary habits are impactful drivers for a potential disruption of the bacteria-host mutualistic interaction. In this context, we previously demonstrated that a high-salt diet (HSD) leads to a dysbiotic condition of murine gut microbiota, characterized by a decrease or depletion of well-known health-promoting gut bacteria. However, due to a controlled and sanitized environment, conventional laboratory mice (CLM) possess a less diverse gut microbiota compared to wild mice, leading to poor translational outcome for gut microbiome studies, since a reduced gut microbiota diversity could fail to depict the complex interdependent networks of the microbiome. Here, we evaluated the HSD effect on gut microbiota in CLM in comparison to wildling mice, which harbor a natural gut ecosystem more closely mimicking the situation in humans. Mice were treated with either control food or HSD and gut microbiota were profiled using amplicon-based methods targeting the 16S ribosomal gene. In line with previous findings, our results revealed that HSD induced significant loss of alpha diversity and extensive modulation of gut microbiota composition in CLM, characterized by the decrease in potentially beneficial bacteria from Firmicutes phylum such as the genera Lactobacillus, Roseburia, Tuzzerella, Anaerovorax and increase in Akkermansia and Parasutterella. However, HSD-treated wildling mice did not show the same changes in terms of alpha diversity and loss of Firmicutes bacteria as CLM, and more generally, wildlings exhibited only minor shifts in the gut microbiota composition upon HSD. In line with this, 16S-based functional analysis suggested only major shifts of gut microbiota ecological functions in CLM compared to wildling mice upon HSD. Our findings indicate that richer and wild-derived gut microbiota is more resistant to dietary interventions such as HSD, compared to gut microbiota of CLM, which may have important implications for future translational microbiome research.

Influence of Ingestion of Lactulose on γ-Lactones Emanating from Human Skin Surface

Lactulose is known to grow health-promoting bacteria, with an increase in the production of beneficial metabolites, such as lactic acid and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the colon. Ingestion of lactulose powder at a food dosage level is known to reduce the dermal emanation of ammonia, a typical human skin gas which potentially affects body odour. However, no study has reported the effect of lactulose on human skin gases other than ammonia. In this study, the influence of lactulose ingestion on the dermal emissions of γ-lactones, volatile cyclic esters with sweet smells, was investigated in healthy subjects. Healthy participants ingested the lactulose powder with a food dosage of 4 g d−1 once a day for 2 weeks. γ-lactones emanating from the skin surface were collected from each participant’s forearm by using a passive flux sampler, and six kinds of γ-lactones, namely, γ-hexalactone (C6), γ-heptalactone (C7), γ-octalactone (C8), γ-nonalactone (C9), γ-decalactone (C10), and γ-undecalactone (C11), were determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Quantification of bifidobacteria in faeces collected before and after ingestion of lactulose for 2 weeks was carried out by using real-time PCR. The results showed a significant increase in the dermal emission fluxes of sweet-smelling C10 and C11 lactones as the number of bifidobacteria increased in the faeces, presumably mediated by SCFAs produced in the colon.

Gut microbiota modulation in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Effects of current treatments and future strategies.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is frequently associated with metabolic disorders, being highly prevalent in obese and diabetic patients. Many concomitant factors that promote systemic and liver inflammation are involved in NAFLD pathogenesis, with a growing body of evidence highlighting the key role of the gut microbiota. Indeed, the gut-liver axis has a strong impact in the promotion of NAFLD and in the progression of the wide spectrum of its manifestations, claiming efforts to find effective strategies for gut microbiota modulation. Diet is among the most powerful tools; Western diet negatively affects intestinal permeability and the gut microbiota composition and function, selecting pathobionts, whereas Mediterranean diet fosters health-promoting bacteria, with a favorable impact on lipid and glucose metabolism and liver inflammation. Antibiotics and probiotics have been used to improve NAFLD features, with mixed results. More interestingly, medications used to treat NAFLD-associated comorbidities may also modulate the gut microbiota. Drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), such as metformin, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, and sodium-glucose cotransporter (SGLT) inhibitors, are not only effective in the regulation of glucose homeostasis, but also in the reduction of liver fat content and inflammation, and they are associated with a shift in the gut microbiota composition towards a healthy phenotype. Even bariatric surgery significantly changes the gut microbiota, mostly due to the modification of the gastrointestinal anatomy, with a parallel improvement in histological features of NAFLD. Other options with promising effects in reprogramming the gut-liver axis, such as fecal microbial transplantation (FMT) and next-generation probiotics deserve further investigation for future inclusion in the therapeutic armamentarium of NAFLD.

Effects of Berries, Phytochemicals, and Probiotics on Atherosclerosis through Gut Microbiota Modification: A Meta-Analysis of Animal Studies

Atherosclerosis is a major cause of death and disability. The beneficial effects of phytochemicals and probiotics on atherosclerosis have gained significant interest since these functional foods can improve inflammation, oxidative stress, and microbiome dysbiosis. The direct effect of the microbiome in atherosclerosis, however, needs further elucidation. The objective of this work was to investigate the effects of polyphenols, alkaloids, and probiotics on atherosclerosis using a meta-analysis of studies with mouse models of atherosclerosis. Identification of eligible studies was conducted through searches on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Science Direct until November 2022. The results showed that phytochemicals reduced atherosclerosis, which was significant in male mice, but not in females. Probiotics, on the other hand, showed significant reductions in plaque in both sexes. Berries and phytochemicals modulated gut microbial composition by reducing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio and by upregulating health-promoting bacteria, including Akkermansia muciniphila. This analysis suggests that phytochemicals and probiotics can reduce atherosclerosis in animal models, with a potentially greater effect on male animals. Thus, consumption of functional foods rich in phytochemicals as well as probiotics are viable interventions to improve gut health and reduce plaque burden in patients suffering from cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Keep your teeth for life: Wellness experience teeth cleaning

Keep your teeth for life: Wellness experience teeth cleaning The mouth contains bacteria and is a dynamic environment. Day and night, there is significant activity taking place between different types of bacteria. Some of these bacteria can become unstable and gain the upper hand over balanced, health-promoting bacteria, in time resulting in conditions like caries, bad breath, and / or gum inflammation, with signs of bleeding or spaces or openings surrounding the teeth under the gum line. This often necessitates thorough teeth cleaning, or more. Dr Marcel Donnet and Dr Neha Dixit discuss oral hygiene and the importance of teeth cleaning to maintain physical wellness.

Quercetin alleviates intestinal inflammation and improves intestinal functions via modulating gut microbiota composition in LPS-challenged laying hens

Quercetin, a well-known flavonoid, has been demonstrated to exert beneficial effects on intestinal functions and gut microbiota in birds. In this study, we investigated the effects of quercetin supplementation on inflammatory responses, intestinal barrier functions and gut microbial community in LPS-challenged laying hens. A total of two hundred eighty-eight 32-wk-old Jingfen No.6 laying hens were randomly assigned to 3 groups, the CON group, the LC group and the LQ group. LQ group was fed with 0.4 mg/kg quercetin and at the end of 12 wk, LC and LQ groups were challenged intraperitoneally with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). After LPS challenge, 8 birds of each group were randomly selected and sampled. LPS challenge induced an obvious intestinal mucosal injury, necrosis and shedding, while quercetin intervention maintained its structure. Quercetin significantly decreased the elevated malondialdehyde contents (P < 0.05), and increased the activity of total antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxidase (P < 0.05) in intestinal mucosa of LPS-challenged laying hens. Quercetin rescued the LPS-induced decreases in goblet cell density and mucin2 expression levels (P < 0.05). There was a significant decline (P < 0.05) in the mRNA expression of Claudin1 and Occludin in intestinal mucosa of LPS-challenged layers, which could be alleviated (P < 0.05) by dietary quercetin. LPS challenge induced the increased expression levels (P < 0.05) of IL-1β and TLR-4 in intestinal mucosa, while these rises could be reversed (P < 0.05) following dietary quercetin supplementation. LPS challenge induced a shift in gut microenvironment, and quercetin addition could elevate the relative abundance of some short chain fatty acids (SCFA)-producing or health-promoting bacteria such as Phascolarctobacterium, Negativicutes, Selenomonadales, Megamonas, Prevotellaceae, and Bacteroides_salanitronis. In conclusion, dietary quercetin addition ameliorated the LPS challenge-induced intestinal inflammation and improved intestinal functions, possibly associated with its modulation on gut microbiota, particularly the increased population of SCFA-producing bacteria.

The Effect of Storage on Potentially Synbiotic Emulsion Spread Based on Milk Fat and Inulin

The effect of four-week storage of milk fat–inulin emulsion as a product designed for spreading on bread was analysed. The emulsion contained 20% inulin, 20% milk fat, and 2% whey protein concentrate as an emulsifier. Salt (0.2%), β-carotene (0.04%), Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5, Streptococcus thermophilus, as well as Bifidobacterium animalis BB-12 were also added. Rheological and textural analysis showed either no significant (p ≤ 0.05) or no substantial effects of storage on apparent viscosity, storage and loss modulus, hardness, cohesiveness, adhesiveness, and spreadability. The applied probiotic bacteria stayed alive at a level above 107 cfu/g during four-week storage, which is expected from a probiotic product. The whole time period of storage did not affect the chemical composition of the applied milk fat in the product. Sensory analysis showed that milk fat–inulin spread is acceptable and usually no different than commercial products, however, some off-taste and off-flavours were detected by panellists. In summary, a potentially pro-healthy product for spreading on bread was designed and studied. Besides the presence of fibre and health-promoting bacteria, the studied emulsion characterized a stable chemical composition and rheological as well as textural properties similar to commercial spreads.