Gut microbiota metabolism of branched-chain amino acids and their metabolites can improve the physiological function of aging mice

Abstract

The metabolism of branched-chain amino acids by gut microbiota can improve overall health and may reverse aging. In this study, we investigated Parabacteroides merdae, a gut microbe that is known to catabolise branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs). Three metabolites of BCAAs isovalerate, 2-methylbutyrate, and isobutyrate were used to treat D-gal induced aging mice. The results showed that these treatments could delay aging in mice by providing health benefits in reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, improving muscle capacity, reversing brain acetylcholine levels, and regulating blood glucose. The mechanism was preliminarily explored by combining the gut microbiota metagenome and faecal serum metabolome. Parabacteroides merdae altered the species composition and structure of the gut microbiota in mice. Increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium pseudolongum. Three metabolites affects the gut microbiota and the body's pathways of protein and improves the overall health through a variety of signaling pathways. Overall, regulating the gut microbiota involved in branched-chain amino acid metabolism to bring health benefits may be a new way of reversing aging.