Bioscience of microbiota, food and health最新文献

Protecting brain health is one of the current focal points of public concern. Medicinal foods that promote brain health, such as Gastrodia elata Bl, black sesame seeds (Sesamum indicum L.), walnuts (Juglans regia L.), jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.), Poria cocos, and Coix seeds, possess antioxidant and neuroprotective properties, as well as modulating effects on the intestinal microbiota. This study evaluated the effects of functional biscuits formulated with these medicinal foods on the intestinal mucosal microbiota, brain function, and antioxidant activity in mice. Forty male SPF-grade C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a blank control group (NG), low-dose functional biscuit group (GLG), medium-dose functional biscuit group (GMG), and high-dose functional biscuit group (GHG). After 42 days of continuous feeding with the functional biscuits, changes in the richness, diversity, and community structure of the intestinal mucosal microbiota were observed. Compared with the NG group, norepinephrine (NE) levels in the hippocampus significantly increased in the GLG, GMG, and GHG groups, while gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels showed no significant difference. In the GMG and GHG groups, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the liver significantly decreased, and acetylcholine transferase (ChAT) levels in the hippocampus significantly increased. Additionally, multiple bacterial genera were found to be correlated with the NE, ChAT, and MDA levels. These findings indicate that functional biscuits have effects on modulating the intestinal mucosal microbiota composition, enhancing brain function, and exhibiting antioxidant activity, making them a beneficial functional food for brain health.

Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota has recently been identified as a therapeutic target for ulcerative colitis. We reported the effectiveness of antibiotic combination therapy (ATM therapy) for the induction and maintenance of ulcerative colitis remission. In this study, we aimed to investigate the long-term effectiveness of ATM therapy in a larger cohort. A prospective open-label trial was undertaken with 311 adult ulcerative colitis patients. The combination of oral amoxicillin 500 mg t.i.d., tetracycline 500 mg t.i.d. and metronidazole 250 mg t.i.d. was administered to patients daily for 2-4 weeks in addition to their conventional medication. Clinical assessments were performed using the partial Mayo score at baseline; at treatment completion; and at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Endoscopic evaluations were performed using the Mayo endoscopic score at baseline, 3 months, and 12 months. The compliance rate was 95.7%. The response and remission rates were 75.2% and 30.9% at completion, 62.7% and 29.6% at 3 months, 48.2% and 27.7% at 6 months, 37.9% and 24.4% at 9 months, and 35.4% and 24.4% at 12 months. The most frequent adverse events were diarrhea and fever. No life-threatening adverse events were observed during the trial. ATM therapy effectively led to long-term clinical response and remission in patients with active ulcerative colitis symptoms. However, further investigations are needed for the standardization of antibiotic therapy for ulcerative colitis in the future.

Certain probiotics prevent upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) by activating immune cells, particularly mononuclear phagocytic cells (MPCs). However, the influence of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei strain Shirota (LcS), a representative probiotic strain, remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the effects of LcS ingestion on URTIs and MPC activation. Two hundred healthy workers aged 23-59 consumed a fermented milk drink containing 4.0 × 10¹⁰ CFU of LcS (LcS-FM) or a control unfermented milk drink (CM) daily for 28 days during winter. The incidence and severity of URTIs were surveyed using a questionnaire. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and serum samples were analyzed for immune cell subsets, cell surface molecules, and cytokines. The LcS-FM group showed a significantly lower incidence and severity of URTIs than the CM group. Notably, the incidence, cumulative incidence, and severity of URTI symptoms were markedly suppressed after 14 days of consumption. LcS-FM also affected MPC activation during this period. The expression of HLA-DR on conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) and monocytes (Mos) was significantly higher in the LcS-FM group on days 14 and 28, along with the expression of CD86 on cDCs on day 14. Among the study participants positive for serum interferon (IFN), the IFNα2 concentration in the LcS-FM group was higher than that in the CM group on day 28. These findings suggest that LcS suppresses the incidence and severity of URTIs in healthy adults, which is associated with the activation of cDCs and Mos.

Single-strain Bifidobacterium species are commonly used as probiotics with low birth weight neonates. However, the effectiveness and safety of multi-strain Bifidobacterium supplementation are not well known. Thirty-six neonates weighing less than 2,000 g (558-1,943 g) at birth and admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit were randomly assigned to receive a single strain or triple strains of Bifidobacterium with lactulose enterally for 4 weeks from birth. The relative abundances of Staphylococcus and Bifidobacterium in the fecal microbiota at weeks 1, 2, and 4 were investigated. Based on the study results, no significant difference was detected between the two groups in the abundance of Staphylococcus; however, the triple-strain group had significantly high abundances of Bifidobacterium at weeks 2 and 4. The fecal microbiota in the triple-strain group had significantly lower alpha diversity (Bifidobacterium-enriching) after week 4 and was different from that in the single-strain group, which showed a higher abundance of Clostridium. No severe adverse events occurred in either group during the study period. Although no significant difference was detected between single- and multi-strain bifidobacteria supplementation in the colonization of Staphylococcus in the fecal microbiota of the neonates, multi-strain bifidobacteria supplementation contributed toward early enrichment of the microbiota with bifidobacteria and suppression of other pathogenic bacteria, such as Clostridium spp.

Cumulative evidence suggests that intermittent fasting (IF) has beneficial effects on human metabolic health. It has been indicated that its impact on the gut microbiota may mediate these beneficial effects. As a result, we hypothesized that IF may impact the human gut microbiota. A systematic review was carried out according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocol using the PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL databases. We registered our systematic review protocol in PROSPERO under registration number CRD42021270050. Human intervention studies published until April 30, 2023, were included. The quality of the included studies was assessed using National Institutes of Health (NIH) quality assessment study tools for intervention studies. The search in the database returned 166 studies, of which 13 matched all criteria for the final qualitative analysis. The body of evidence suggests that IF modulates human gut microbiota alpha and beta diversity in lean (relatively healthy) and relatively healthy overweight/obese individuals but not in individuals with metabolic syndrome. Furthermore, IF also alters human gut microbiota composition in all phenotypes. Of interest, the gut microbiota taxa or microbial metabolites after an IF intervention are associated with metabolic markers. According to this review, IF influences the diversity and taxonomic levels of the human gut microbiota. Individual metabolic phenotypes may alter the effect of IF on the diversity and taxonomic levels of the gut microbiota.

This research investigated and compared the prebiotic properties of a rice bran extract obtained through commercial xylanase extraction in comparison with water extraction. Prebiotic properties were evaluated by probiotic growth stimulation (Lacticaseibacillus casei and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum) and gastrointestinal pathogen inhibition (Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli). The rice bran extract obtained with xylanase (RB1) displayed significantly higher total polysaccharide and total reducing sugar contents than those obtained with water (RB2; p<0.05). After extraction for 30 min, RB1 exhibited the highest total polysaccharide and total reducing sugar contents. HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) analysis revealed that RB1 primarily contained xylose, while RB2 contained less glucose and lacked other sugar derivatives. RB1 proved effective in stimulating the growth of L. casei and L. plantarum, surpassing even inulin (a commercial prebiotic). Furthermore, it demonstrated a high potential for inhibiting the growth of pathogenic B. cereus and E. coli, comparable to inulin. In contrast, RB2 exhibited lower inhibitory capacity against B. cereus and E. coli.

Emerging research indicates the potential involvement of gut bacteria in the etiology of Graves' Disease (GD). However, the evidence regarding this matter is still conflicting. The primary objective of this investigation was to examine the correlation between gut microbiota and GD. A comprehensive search was conducted of the Cochrane Library, Scopus, Europe PMC, and Medline databases up until August 1, 2023, utilizing a combination of relevant keywords. This review incorporates literature that examined the composition of gut microbiota in patients with GD. We employed random-effect models to analyze the standardized mean difference (SMD) and present the outcomes together with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of ten studies were incorporated. The results of our meta-analysis indicated that patients with GD have a reduced alpha diversity of gut microbiota as evidence by a significant reduction of Chao1 (std. mean difference -0.58; 95% CI -0.90, -0.26, p=0.0004; I² =61%), ACE (std. mean difference -0.64; 95% CI -1.09, -0.18, p=0.006; I² =77%), and Shannon index (std. mean difference -0.71; 95% CI -1.25, -0.17, p=0.01; I² =90%) when compared with healthy controls. At the phylum level, the abundance of Firmicutes was reduced in GD patients, while that of Bacteroidetes was increased. This study suggests a notable decrease in the richness and variety of gut microbiota among people diagnosed with GD in comparison with healthy controls.

Ulva, an edible green alga, contains sulfated polysaccharides and oligosaccharides that possess immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. The objective of this study was to investigate the anti-allergic effects of Ulva-derived samples of polysaccharides (UP), oligosaccharides (UO), and residues (UR) on delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) in mice. Oral treatment of mice with UP, UO, and UR (250 mg/kg body weight) daily noticeably improved the DTH reaction as evidenced by attenuation of footpad swelling and cell infiltration at the allergen-challenge site. Although the Ulva samples had limited impacts on the production of serum total IgG, decreased concentrations of allergen-specific IgG and IgG_2a and an increased concentration of IgG₁ were observed in the treated mice. Moreover, treatment with them suppressed allergen-induced IFN-γ and TNF-α secretion and elevated IL-4 secretion. However, none of the Ulva sample treatments could modulate the production of IL-10. Concordantly, the in situ data reveal that the Ulva sample treatments suppressed IFN-γ and TNF-α expression at the allergen-injection site. These findings collectively suggest the potential of UP, UO, and UR as functional food candidates for the management of delayed-type hypersensitivity.

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum N793 (N793) is a lactic acid bacterium (LAB) isolated from corn. We previously showed that N793 increases the level of keratinocyte growth factor, which is required for hair growth, in the culture supernatant of human follicle dermal papilla cells. Additionally, an open-label, single-arm study reported that applying a lotion containing N793 to the scalp for 24 weeks improved hair density in men and women with thinning hair. The present study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study aimed at verifying the efficacy of N793 for thinning hair. A lotion containing N793, and a control lotion (placebo) were applied once daily for 24 weeks to 104 healthy Japanese men and women. Analysis of all participants revealed no difference in hair density between the N793 and placebo groups. However, an additional analysis limited to participants with relatively mild progression of thinning hair showed a significantly better hair density in the N793 group than in the placebo group. These findings suggest that topical application of N793 improves thinning hair in men and women when the condition's progression is relatively mild.

Kimoto-type Japanese rice wine (sake) has a wide variety of flavors, as the predominant microbes, including lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and nitrate-reducing bacteria, that spontaneously proliferate in the fermentation starter vary depending on the brewery. In this study, we traced the microbiota in four lots of starters manufactured in a newly established brewery and evaluated the lot-to-lot variation and characteristics of the microbiota in the brewery. The results of a 16S ribosomal RNA amplicon analysis showed that the starters brewed in the second brewing year had a more diverse microbiota than those in the first brewing year. Among the LAB predominated at the middle production stage, lactococci, including Leuconostoc spp., were detected in all the lots, while lactobacilli predominated for the first time in the second year. These results suggest that repeated brewing increased microbial diversity and altered the microbial transition pattern in the kimoto-style fermentation starters. Phylogenetic analyses for the LAB isolates from each starter identified Leuconostoc suionicum, Leuconostoc citreum, and Leuconostoc mesenteroides as predominant lactococci as well as a unique lactobacillus in place of Latilactobacillus sakei. We also found that a rice koji-derived Staphylococcus gallinarum with nitrate-reducing activity was generally predominant during the early production stage, suggesting that there was a case in which staphylococci played a role in nitrite production in the starters. These findings are expected to contribute to the understanding of the diversity of microbiota in kimoto-type sake brewing and enable control of the microbiota for consistent sake quality.