Gut Microbiota and Nutrients

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Gut Microbiota".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 60047

Special Issue Editor

Department of Biomedical Sciences and Institute for Medical Science, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Keumam‐Dong San 2‐20, Jeonju 561‐180, Chonbuk, Republic of Korea
Interests: gut microbiota; traits; nutrient; gene; composition of gut microbiota
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Investigation into the gut microbiota has been a focus of biological science over the last 15 years. Human traits are considered to be determined by combination of the individual genetic background and environmental factors. However, recent findings have shown that the gut microbiota contributes significantly to the traits of humans as much as our genes, especially in the case of atherosclerosis, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), gastrointestinal tract malignancies, hepatic encephalopathy, allergies, behavior, intelligence, autism, neurological diseases, and psychological diseases. Alteration of the composition of the gut microbiota even affects the behavior, intelligence, mood, autism, and psychology of its host, as well as the prevalence of migraines, through the gut–brain axis. Nutrients determine the growth of individual intestinal bacteria in the gut. Therefore, it is reasonable to speculate that nutrients are the main determinants of the gut microbiota composition, which means that their effects on human traits result from modification of the gut microbiota by nutrient uptake as well as from the nutrients themselves. Considering the dependency of specific nutritional components of microbes, the gut microbiota could be the missing link between nutrients and human traits.

Dr. Seong-Tshool Hong
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • gut microbiota
  • traits
  • nutrient
  • gene
  • composition of gut microbiota

Published Papers (15 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2819 KiB  
Article
Serum-Derived Bovine Immunoglobulin Stimulates SCFA Production by Specific Microbes in the Ex Vivo SIFR® Technology
by Pieter Van den Abbeele, Christopher Detzel, Alexis Rose, Stef Deyaert, Aurélien Baudot and Christopher Warner
Microorganisms 2023, 11(3), 659; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11030659 - 04 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2852
Abstract
Serum-derived bovine immunoglobulins (SBI) exert health benefits mediated by their ability to bind microbial components, thereby preventing translocation and subsequent inflammation. While in vivo studies have shown that a fraction of SBI also reaches the colon, little is known about the impact of [...] Read more.
Serum-derived bovine immunoglobulins (SBI) exert health benefits mediated by their ability to bind microbial components, thereby preventing translocation and subsequent inflammation. While in vivo studies have shown that a fraction of SBI also reaches the colon, little is known about the impact of SBI on the dense colonic microbiota that has great potential to impact human health. This study, therefore, investigated the impact of three bovine plasma protein fractions (SBI, bovine plasma (BP) and albumin-enriched bovine plasma (ABP)) on the gut microbiota of six human adults using the novel ex vivo SIFR® technology, recently demonstrated to generate predictive findings for clinical studies. When dosed at an equivalent of 5 g/day, all protein fractions significantly increased health-related metabolites—acetate, propionate, and butyrate. Upon simulating small intestinal absorption, SBI still markedly increased acetate and propionate, demonstrating that SBI is more resistant to small intestinal digestion and absorption compared to the other protein sources. Despite noticeable interindividual differences in microbiota composition among human adults, SBI consistently stimulated a narrow spectrum of gut microbes, which largely differed from the ones that are typically involved in carbohydrate fermentation. The SBI-fermenting consortium included B. vulgatus and L. edouardi (correlating with acetate and propionate) along with Dorea longicatena, Coprococcus comes and the butyrate-producing bacterium SS3/4 (correlating with butyrate). Overall, this study revealed that protein bovine fractions can contribute to health benefits by specifically modulating the human gut microbiota. While health benefits could follow from the production of SCFA, a broader range of protein-derived metabolites could also be produced. This study also confirms that the concept of prebiotics (substrates selectively utilized by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit) could go beyond the use of ingestible carbohydrates and extend to partially indigestible proteins. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Microbiota and Nutrients)
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19 pages, 1185 KiB  
Article
Dietary Effects of a Short-Term Administration of Microalgae Blend on Growth Performance, Tissue Fatty Acids, and Predominant Intestinal Microbiota in Sparus aurata
by Jorge García-Márquez, Rosa María Rico, Francisco Gabriel Acién, Juan Miguel Mancera, Félix L. Figueroa, Antonio Jesús Vizcaíno, Francisco Javier Alarcón, Miguel Ángel Moriñigo and Roberto Teófilo Abdala-Díaz
Microorganisms 2023, 11(2), 463; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11020463 - 12 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1407
Abstract
Given the potential of microalgae as new aquafeed ingredients, this study focuses on using a blend of microalgae, Tisochrysis lutea, Nannochloropsis gaditana, and Scenedesmus almeriensis, as a dietary ingredient for feeding Sparus aurata juveniles. The growth performance, carcass composition, tissue fatty [...] Read more.
Given the potential of microalgae as new aquafeed ingredients, this study focuses on using a blend of microalgae, Tisochrysis lutea, Nannochloropsis gaditana, and Scenedesmus almeriensis, as a dietary ingredient for feeding Sparus aurata juveniles. The growth performance, carcass composition, tissue fatty acid profile, and intestinal microbiota were evaluated after a 30 day-feeding period. A microalgae-free diet was used as control, and three experimental diets were formulated containing 5%, 15%, and 25% of the microalgae blend (MB-5%, MB-15%, and MB-25%, respectively). After 7, 15, and 30 days of feeding experimental diets, biological samples were taken. Growth performance and nutrient utilization were not significantly modified at the end of the experiment. Microalgae inclusion tended to decrease body lipids and affected the fatty acid profile, especially MB-25 diet increased DHA levels. Diet MB-25 promoted appropriate microbial diversity, favoring the presence of probiotic bacteria, such as Lactobacillus, and significantly influencing the fatty acid composition and lipid metabolism in fish. In conclusion, using a short pulse of dietary administration of 25% microalgal blend in S. aurata modulates the intestinal microbiota and lipid composition while maintaining growth performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Microbiota and Nutrients)
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12 pages, 1841 KiB  
Article
Exercise and/or Genistein Do Not Revert 24-Week High-Fat, High-Sugar Diet-Induced Gut Microbiota Diversity Changes in Male C57BL/6J Adult Mice
by Carmen P. Ortega-Santos, Layla Al-Nakkash and Corrie M. Whisner
Microorganisms 2022, 10(11), 2221; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10112221 - 10 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1280
Abstract
The gut microbiota (GM) has been hypothesized to be a potential mediator in the health benefits of exercise and diet. The current literature is focused on the prevention effects of exercise and diet and could benefit from exploring whether these treatments alone or [...] Read more.
The gut microbiota (GM) has been hypothesized to be a potential mediator in the health benefits of exercise and diet. The current literature is focused on the prevention effects of exercise and diet and could benefit from exploring whether these treatments alone or combined can treat obesity via the gut microbiome. This study aimed to explore the effects of genistein, exercise, and their synergistic effect to revert diet-induced obesity and gut microbiota changes. A total of 57 male adult C57BL/6 mice were randomized to 24 weeks of unpurified diet (chow) or a high-fat, high-sugar diet (HFD; 60% fat total energy). After the first 12 weeks, animals on the HFD were randomized into: HFD + chow, HFD, HFD + exercise (HFD + Exe), HFD + genistein (HFD + Gen), and HFD + Exe + Gen. We compared the body weight change between groups after 24 weeks. GM (α-diversity and ß-diversity) was profiled after sequencing the 16S rRNA gene by Illumina MiSeq. HFD + Exe + Gen significantly (p < 0.05) decreased weight gain relative to the HFD with only HFD + chow reverting the body weight change to that of chow. All diets including HFD reduced the GM richness (observed amplicon sequence variants) relative to chow with the HFD + Gen and HFD + Exe resulting in significantly lower phylogenetic diversity compared to the HFD. Data did not support an additive benefit to the GM for HFD + Gen + Exe. HFD + Exe + Gen showed a greater capacity to revert diet-induced obesity in adult male mice, but it was not as effective as switching from HFD to chow. Lifestyle treatment of HFD-induced obesity including exercise and genistein resulted in a reduction in weight gain and GM richness, but switching from HFD to chow had the greatest potential to revert these characteristics toward that of lean controls. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Microbiota and Nutrients)
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15 pages, 11457 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Amino Acids on Production of SCFA and bCFA by Members of the Porcine Colonic Microbiota
by Pieter Van den Abbeele, Jonas Ghyselinck, Massimo Marzorati, Anna-Maria Koch, William Lambert, Joris Michiels and Tristan Chalvon-Demersay
Microorganisms 2022, 10(4), 762; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10040762 - 31 Mar 2022
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2765
Abstract
Functional amino acids supplementation to farm animals is considered to not only be beneficial by regulating intestinal barrier, oxidative stress, and immunity, but potentially also by impacting the gut microbiota. The impact of amino acids on a piglet-derived colonic microbiota was evaluated using [...] Read more.
Functional amino acids supplementation to farm animals is considered to not only be beneficial by regulating intestinal barrier, oxidative stress, and immunity, but potentially also by impacting the gut microbiota. The impact of amino acids on a piglet-derived colonic microbiota was evaluated using a 48-h in vitro batch incubation strategy. The combination of 16S rRNA gene profiling with flow cytometry demonstrated that specific microbial taxa were involved in the fermentation of each of the amino acids resulting in the production of specific metabolites. Branched chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, valine) strongly increased branched-chain fatty acids (+23.0 mM) and valerate levels (+3.0 mM), coincided with a marked increase of Peptostreptococcaceae. Further, glutamine and glutamate specifically stimulated acetate (~20 mM) and butyrate (~10 mM) production, relating to a stimulation of a range of families containing known butyrate-producing species (Ruminococcaceae, Oscillospiraceae, and Christensenellaceae). Finally, while tryptophan was only fermented to a minor extent, arginine and lysine specifically increased propionate levels (~2 mM), likely produced by Muribaculaceae members. Overall, amino acids were thus shown to be selectively utilized by microbes originating from the porcine colonic microbiota, resulting in the production of health-related short-chain fatty acids, thus confirming the prebiotic potential of specific functional amino acids. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Microbiota and Nutrients)
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17 pages, 1210 KiB  
Article
High Vaccenic Acid Content in Beef Fat Attenuates High Fat and High Carbohydrate Western Diet Induced Changes in Lipid Metabolism and Gut Microbiota in Pigs
by Vijay P. Singh, Melanie A. Fontaine, Rabban Mangat, Janelle M. Fouhse, Abdoulaye Diane, Benjamin P. Willing and Spencer D. Proctor
Microorganisms 2021, 9(12), 2517; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9122517 - 06 Dec 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2391
Abstract
High-fat diets (HFD) have been shown to induce substantial shifts in intestinal microbial community composition and activity which are associated with adverse metabolic outcomes. Furthermore, changes in microbial composition are affected by fatty acid composition; saturated, monounsaturated (MUFA), and industrial trans fats (iTFA) [...] Read more.
High-fat diets (HFD) have been shown to induce substantial shifts in intestinal microbial community composition and activity which are associated with adverse metabolic outcomes. Furthermore, changes in microbial composition are affected by fatty acid composition; saturated, monounsaturated (MUFA), and industrial trans fats (iTFA) adversely affect microbial diversity while polyunsaturated fats (PUFA) have been shown to have neutral effects. The effects of naturally occurring trans fats on gut microbial composition are unknown. Vaccenic acid (VA) is the most abundant naturally occurring trans fat (abundant in meat and dairy), can be elevated by altering a cow’s diet, and has been shown to have hypolipidemic effects. The aim of this study was to determine how variations of VA content in beef fat affect gut microbial composition, insulin resistance, and lipid metabolism in pigs. Low birth weight (LBW) and control pigs were fed a control or high-fat, high-carbohydrate (HFHC) diet supplemented with beef fat containing either high or low VA levels for 7 weeks. An adapted modified oral glucose tolerance test and fat challenge test were performed at 9 weeks of age following implantation of jugular catheters. Impacts on microbial composition were assessed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The HFHC diet containing beef fat rich in VA had a mild insulin sensitizing effect (p < 0.05, slope of curve), increased plasma HDL cholesterol (p < 0.05, +28%), reduced postprandial plasma TG (p < 0.05), and showed protection from HFHC-induced changes to gut microbial composition in LBW pigs as compared to HFHC diet containing standard beef fat. This is the first study to show effects of natural trans fats on gut dysbiosis; further studies are needed to elucidate mechanisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Microbiota and Nutrients)
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13 pages, 7044 KiB  
Article
Administration of Bovine Milk Oligosaccharide to Weaning Gnotobiotic Mice Inoculated with a Simplified Infant Type Microbiota
by Louise Margrethe Arildsen Jakobsen, Ulrik Kræmer Sundekilde, Henrik Jørgen Andersen, Witold Kot, Josue Leonardo Castro Mejia, Dennis Sandris Nielsen, Axel Kornerup Hansen and Hanne Christine Bertram
Microorganisms 2021, 9(5), 1003; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9051003 - 06 May 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2299
Abstract
Bovine milk oligosaccharides (BMO) share structural similarity to selected human milk oligosaccharides, which are natural prebiotics for infants. Thus, there is a potential in including BMOs as a prebiotic in infant formula. To examine the in vivo effect of BMO-supplementation on the infant [...] Read more.
Bovine milk oligosaccharides (BMO) share structural similarity to selected human milk oligosaccharides, which are natural prebiotics for infants. Thus, there is a potential in including BMOs as a prebiotic in infant formula. To examine the in vivo effect of BMO-supplementation on the infant gut microbiota, a BMO-rich diet (2% w/w) was fed to gnotobiotic mice (n = 11) inoculated with an infant type co-culture and compared with gnotobiotic mice receiving a control diet (n = 9). Nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomics in combination with high-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was used to compare metabolic activity and microbiota composition in different compartments of the lower gastrointestinal tract. BMO components were detected in cecum and colon contents, revealing that BMO was available for the gut bacteria. The gut microbiota was dominated by Enterobacteriaceae and minor abundance of Lactobacilliaceae, while colonization of Bifidobacteriaceae did not succeed. Apart from a lower E. coli population in cecum content and lower formate (in colon) and succinate (in colon and cecum) concentrations, BMO supplementation did not result in significant changes in microbiota composition nor metabolic activity. The present study corroborates the importance of the presence of bifidobacteria for obtaining microbial-derived effects of milk oligosaccharides in the gastrointestinal tract. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Microbiota and Nutrients)
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21 pages, 1879 KiB  
Article
Apple Pomace and Performance, Intestinal Morphology and Microbiota of Weaned Piglets—A Weaning Strategy for Gut Health?
by Sandrine Dufourny, Nadine Antoine, Elena Pitchugina, Véronique Delcenserie, Stéphane Godbout, Caroline Douny, Marie-Louise Scippo, Eric Froidmont, Pierre Rondia, José Wavreille and Nadia Everaert
Microorganisms 2021, 9(3), 572; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9030572 - 10 Mar 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2123
Abstract
Apple pomace (AP) is known to be rich in biomolecules beneficial for health and it may advantageously be used to overcome the critical step of piglets’ weaning. The study aimed to determine the effect of two levels of incorporation of AP on the [...] Read more.
Apple pomace (AP) is known to be rich in biomolecules beneficial for health and it may advantageously be used to overcome the critical step of piglets’ weaning. The study aimed to determine the effect of two levels of incorporation of AP on the performance, intestinal morphology, and microbiota of weaned piglets and investigate this feed ingredient as a weaning strategy. An experiment was performed with 42 piglets from weaning (28 days old) over a five-week period, including three iso-energetic and iso-nitrogenous diets (0%, 2%, and 4% dried AP diets) with seven pen-repetitions per diet (two pigs per pen). AP diets were beneficial for the average daily gain calculated on week 3 (p = 0.038) and some parameters of the intestinal architecture on the 35 post-weaning day. The 4% AP diet was beneficial for the feed conversion ratio (p = 0.002) and the energetic feed efficiency (p = 0.004) on the 35 post-weaning day. AP tended to influence the consistency of feces (softer to liquid, p = 0.096) and increased the counts of excreted pathogens (p = 0.072). Four percent AP influenced the richness of the microbiota and the bacteria profile as observed for the phylum Bacteroidetes or the class Clostridia. The 4% AP diet appeared as an interesting weaning strategy that should be evaluated in a large cohort. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Microbiota and Nutrients)
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15 pages, 2574 KiB  
Article
Gut Microbiota and Short-Chain Fatty Acid Profile between Normal and Moderate Malnutrition Children in Yogyakarta, Indonesia
by Rafli Zulfa Kamil, Agnes Murdiati, Mohammad Juffrie, Jiro Nakayama and Endang Sutriswati Rahayu
Microorganisms 2021, 9(1), 127; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9010127 - 07 Jan 2021
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3958
Abstract
Malnutrition has been associated with the gut microbiota composition and the gastrointestinal environment. This study aimed to evaluate whether there is a difference in the gut microbiota profile between the normal and undernutrition (considered moderate malnutrition) children and evaluate the gastrointestinal environment observed [...] Read more.
Malnutrition has been associated with the gut microbiota composition and the gastrointestinal environment. This study aimed to evaluate whether there is a difference in the gut microbiota profile between the normal and undernutrition (considered moderate malnutrition) children and evaluate the gastrointestinal environment observed from the short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profile. Ten days’ observations were done between normal (n:13) and undernutrition (n:15) children. The subject’s diet was recorded using a food record. Analysis of the gut microbiota was performed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing targeting the V3-V4 variables region, while the SCFA profile was analyzed using gas chromatography. The result shows that the undernutrition group’s energy intake was lower than in the normal group. Although there was no difference in diversity index and overall gut composition, overexpression of the genera Methanobrevibacter, Anaerococcus, Eubacterium, and Succinivibrio was observed in the undernutrition group. Meanwhile, in the normal group, Ruminococcus and Fusobacterium were found. In both groups, there was also the dominant of Prevotella enterotype. Gastrointestinal conditions in the normal group tended to be more acidic compared to the undernutrition group. It occurs due to the high concentration of propionate and butyric acids. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Microbiota and Nutrients)
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19 pages, 3757 KiB  
Article
Dietary Organic Acids Modulate Gut Microbiota and Improve Growth Performance of Nursery Pigs
by Xiaoyuan Wei, Kristopher A. Bottoms, Hans H. Stein, Laia Blavi, Casey L. Bradley, Jon Bergstrom, Joshua Knapp, Robert Story, Charles Maxwell, Tsungcheng Tsai and Jiangchao Zhao
Microorganisms 2021, 9(1), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9010110 - 05 Jan 2021
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 3130
Abstract
Feed additives have been suggested to improve animal growth performance through modulating the gut microbiota. The hypothesis of this study was that the combination of two organic acids would exert synergistic effects on the growth performance and gut microbiota of weaning pigs. To [...] Read more.
Feed additives have been suggested to improve animal growth performance through modulating the gut microbiota. The hypothesis of this study was that the combination of two organic acids would exert synergistic effects on the growth performance and gut microbiota of weaning pigs. To test this hypothesis, we followed 398 weaning pigs from two university experiment stations (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and University of Arkansas (UA)) to determine the effects of increasing levels (0%, 0.035%, 0.070%, and 0.105%) of sodium butyrate combined with 0.5% benzoic acid on the growth performance of nursery pigs. At the UA, an additional negative control diet was included and the gut microbiota analysis was carried out. At both universities, increasing levels of sodium butyrate in a diet containing 0.5% benzoic acid improved growth performance, which reached a plateau in the pigs fed 0.035% (SBA0.035) or 0.070% (SBA0.070) butyrate. Gut microbiota analysis revealed that pigs fed the SBA0.035 diet had more diverse microbiota and contained more potentially beneficial bacteria such as Oscillospira, Blautia, and Turicibacter and reduced levels of Veillonella and Sarcina. Results of the present study indicated that the inclusion of sodium butyrate at moderate levels in a diet containing 0.5% benzoic acid improved growth performance of weaning pigs and established potential health benefits on gut microbiota. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Microbiota and Nutrients)
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Review

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36 pages, 1430 KiB  
Review
Modulating Microbiota as a New Strategy for Breast Cancer Prevention and Treatment
by Huixin Wu, Sebanti Ganguly and Trygve O. Tollefsbol
Microorganisms 2022, 10(9), 1727; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10091727 - 27 Aug 2022
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4729
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women in the United States. There has been an increasing incidence and decreasing mortality rate of BC cases over the past several decades. Many risk factors are associated with BC, such as diet, aging, [...] Read more.
Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women in the United States. There has been an increasing incidence and decreasing mortality rate of BC cases over the past several decades. Many risk factors are associated with BC, such as diet, aging, personal and family history, obesity, and some environmental factors. Recent studies have shown that healthy individuals and BC patients have different microbiota composition, indicating that microbiome is a new risk factor for BC. Gut and breast microbiota alterations are associated with BC prognosis. This review will evaluate altered microbiota populations in gut, breast tissue, and milk of BC patients, as well as mechanisms of interactions between microbiota modulation and BC. Probiotics and prebiotics are commercially available dietary supplements to alleviate side-effects of cancer therapies. They also shape the population of human gut microbiome. This review evaluates novel means of modulating microbiota by nutritional treatment with probiotics and prebiotics as emerging and promising strategies for prevention and treatment of BC. The mechanistic role of probiotic and prebiotics partially depend on alterations in estrogen metabolism, systematic immune regulation, and epigenetics regulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Microbiota and Nutrients)
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13 pages, 302 KiB  
Review
The Gut Microbiota Influenced by the Intake of Probiotics and Functional Foods with Prebiotics Can Sustain Wellness and Alleviate Certain Ailments like Gut-Inflammation and Colon-Cancer
by Divakar Dahiya and Poonam Singh Nigam
Microorganisms 2022, 10(3), 665; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10030665 - 20 Mar 2022
Cited by 44 | Viewed by 7491
Abstract
The gut microbiota is composed of several microbial strains, with diverse and variable combinations in healthy and sick persons, changing at different stages of life. A healthy balance between host and gut microorganisms must be maintained in order to perform the normal physiological, [...] Read more.
The gut microbiota is composed of several microbial strains, with diverse and variable combinations in healthy and sick persons, changing at different stages of life. A healthy balance between host and gut microorganisms must be maintained in order to perform the normal physiological, metabolic, and immune functions and prevent disease development. Disturbances in the balance of the gut microbiota by diverse reasons initiate several health issues and promote the progression of certain diseases. This review is based on published research and reports that describe the role of probiotic microorganisms in the sustainability of health and the alleviation of certain diseases. Information is presented on the GRAS strains that are used as probiotics in the food industry for the production of fermented milk, yogurt, fermented food, functional foods, and probiotic drinks. To maintain a healthy microbiota, probiotic supplements in the form of freeze-dried live cells of probiotic strains are also available in different forms to consumers. The health benefits of lactic acid bacteria and other microorganisms and their role in the control of certain diseases such as gut inflammation, diabetes, and bowel cancer and in the safeguarding of the gut epithelial permeability from the invasion of pathogens are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Microbiota and Nutrients)
17 pages, 585 KiB  
Review
What Is the Role of Gut Microbiota in Obesity Prevalence? A Few Words about Gut Microbiota and Its Association with Obesity and Related Diseases
by Julita Tokarek, Joanna Gadzinowska, Ewelina Młynarska, Beata Franczyk and Jacek Rysz
Microorganisms 2022, 10(1), 52; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10010052 - 27 Dec 2021
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 5221
Abstract
Obesity is becoming the most dangerous lifestyle disease of our time, and its effects are already being observed in both developed and developing countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of gut microbiota on the prevalence of obesity and [...] Read more.
Obesity is becoming the most dangerous lifestyle disease of our time, and its effects are already being observed in both developed and developing countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of gut microbiota on the prevalence of obesity and associated morbidities, taking into consideration underlying molecular mechanisms. In addition to exploring the relationship between obesity and fecal microorganisms with their metabolites, the study also focused on the factors that would be able to stimulate growth and remodeling of microbiota. Assessed articles were carefully classified according to a predetermined criterion and were critically appraised and used as a basis for conclusions. The considered articles and reviews acknowledge that intestinal microbiota forms a multifunctional system that might significantly affect human homeostasis. It has been proved that alterations in the gut microbiota are found in obese and metabolically diseased patients. The imbalance of microbiome composition, such as changes in Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio and presence of different species of genus Lactobacillus, might promote obesity and comorbidities (type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, depression, obstructive sleep apnea). However, there are also studies that contradict this theory. Therefore, further well-designed studies are needed to improve the knowledge about the influence of microbiota, its metabolites, and probiotics on obesity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Microbiota and Nutrients)
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21 pages, 3549 KiB  
Review
Bioactive Compounds in Food as a Current Therapeutic Approach to Maintain a Healthy Intestinal Epithelium
by Eva Salinas, Diana Reyes-Pavón, Naima G. Cortes-Perez, Edgar Torres-Maravilla, Oscar K. Bitzer-Quintero, Philippe Langella and Luis G. Bermúdez-Humarán
Microorganisms 2021, 9(8), 1634; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9081634 - 30 Jul 2021
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4534
Abstract
The intestinal epithelium serves as an effective barrier against the external environment, hampering the passage of potentially harmful substances (such as pathogenic microbes) that could trigger an exacerbated host immune response. The integrity of this barrier is thus essential for the maintenance of [...] Read more.
The intestinal epithelium serves as an effective barrier against the external environment, hampering the passage of potentially harmful substances (such as pathogenic microbes) that could trigger an exacerbated host immune response. The integrity of this barrier is thus essential for the maintenance of proper intestinal homeostasis and efficient protective reactions against chemical and microbial challenges. The principal consequence of intestinal barrier defects is an increase in intestinal permeability, which leads to an increased influx of luminal stressors, such as pathogens, toxins, and allergens, which in turn trigger inflammation and immune response. The fine and fragile balance of intestinal homeostasis can be altered by multiple factors that regulate barrier function, many of which are poorly understood. This review will address the role of gut microbiota as well as food supplements (such as probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics) in modulating gut health and regulating intestinal barrier function. In particular, we will focus on three human pathologies: inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and food allergy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Microbiota and Nutrients)
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16 pages, 324 KiB  
Review
Preventing Colorectal Cancer through Prebiotics
by Manijeh Mahdavi, Isabelle Laforest-Lapointe and Eric Massé
Microorganisms 2021, 9(6), 1325; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9061325 - 18 Jun 2021
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3678
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC), the third most common cancer in the world, has been recently rising in emerging countries due to environmental and lifestyle factors. Many of these factors are brought up by industrialization, which includes lack of physical activity, poor diet, circadian rhythm [...] Read more.
Colorectal cancer (CRC), the third most common cancer in the world, has been recently rising in emerging countries due to environmental and lifestyle factors. Many of these factors are brought up by industrialization, which includes lack of physical activity, poor diet, circadian rhythm disruption, and increase in alcohol consumption. They can increase the risk of CRC by changing the colonic environment and by altering gut microbiota composition, a state referred to as gut dysbiosis. Prebiotics, which are nutrients that can help maintain intestinal microbial homeostasis and mitigate dysbiosis, could be beneficial in preventing inflammation and CRC. These nutrients can hinder the effects of dysbiosis by encouraging the growth of beneficial bacteria involved in short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) production, anti-inflammatory immunity, maintenance of the intestinal epithelial barrier, pro-apoptotic mechanisms, and other cellular mechanisms. This review aims to summarize recent reports about the implication of prebiotics, and probable mechanisms, in the prevention and treatment of CRC. Various experimental studies, specifically in gut microbiome, have effectively demonstrated the protective effect of prebiotics in the progress of CRC. Hence, comprehensive knowledge is urgent to understand the clinical applications of prebiotics in the prevention or treatment of CRC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Microbiota and Nutrients)

Other

Jump to: Research, Review

43 pages, 965 KiB  
Systematic Review
Systematic Review: The Gut Microbiome and Its Potential Clinical Application in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
by Laila Aldars-García, María Chaparro and Javier P. Gisbert
Microorganisms 2021, 9(5), 977; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9050977 - 30 Apr 2021
Cited by 78 | Viewed by 10478
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic relapsing–remitting systemic disease of the gastrointestinal tract. It is well established that the gut microbiome has a profound impact on IBD pathogenesis. Our aim was to systematically review the literature on the IBD gut microbiome and [...] Read more.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic relapsing–remitting systemic disease of the gastrointestinal tract. It is well established that the gut microbiome has a profound impact on IBD pathogenesis. Our aim was to systematically review the literature on the IBD gut microbiome and its usefulness to provide microbiome-based biomarkers. A systematic search of the online bibliographic database PubMed from inception to August 2020 with screening in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was conducted. One-hundred and forty-four papers were eligible for inclusion. There was a wide heterogeneity in microbiome analysis methods or experimental design. The IBD intestinal microbiome was generally characterized by reduced species richness and diversity, and lower temporal stability, while changes in the gut microbiome seemed to play a pivotal role in determining the onset of IBD. Multiple studies have identified certain microbial taxa that are enriched or depleted in IBD, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and archaea. The two main features in this sense are the decrease in beneficial bacteria and the increase in pathogenic bacteria. Significant differences were also present between remission and relapse IBD status. Shifts in gut microbial community composition and abundance have proven to be valuable as diagnostic biomarkers. The gut microbiome plays a major role in IBD, yet studies need to go from casualty to causality. Longitudinal designs including newly diagnosed treatment-naïve patients are needed to provide insights into the role of microbes in the onset of intestinal inflammation. A better understanding of the human gut microbiome could provide innovative targets for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and even cure of this relevant disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gut Microbiota and Nutrients)
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