Effects of Vigiis 101-LAB on a healthy population's gut microflora, peristalsis, immunity, and anti-oxidative capacity: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study

Antioxidant Potential of Xanthohumol in Disease Prevention: Evidence from Human and Animal Studies

Xanthohumol (XN) is a phenolic compound found in the largest amount in the flowers of the hop plant, but also in the leaves and possibly in the stalks, which is successfully added to dietary supplements and cosmetics. XN is known as a potent antioxidant compound, which, according to current research, has the potential to prevent and inhibit the development of diseases, i.e., cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. The review aims to examine the antioxidant role of XN in disease prevention, with an emphasis on the benefits and risks associated with its supplementation. The regulation by XN of the Nrf2/NF-kB/mTOR/AKT (Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells/Mammalian target of rapamycin/Protein Kinase B) pathways induce a strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect, among others the acceleration of autophagy through increased synthesis of Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma 2) proteins, inhibition of the synthesis of VEGF (Vascular-endothelial growth factor) responsible for angiogenesis and phosphorylation of HKII (Hexokinase II). It is the key function of XN to ameliorate inflammation and to promote the healing process in organs. However, existing data also indicate that XN may have adverse effects in certain diseases, such as advanced prostate cancer, where it activates the AMPK (activated protein kinase) pathway responsible for restoring cellular energy balance. This potential risk may explain why XN has not been classified as a therapeutic drug so far and proves that further research is needed to determine the effectiveness of XN against selected disease entities at a given stage of the disease.

Effects of Lactocaseibacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei NTU 101 on gut microbiota: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study

BACKGROUND

Lactocaseibacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei NTU 101 (NTU101) is a well-known commercial probiotic with multiple health beneficial effects. In this study, the gut microbiota modulation effect of an NTU 101 product, Vigiis 101-LAB, on healthy human was investigated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human trial.

RESULTS

Vigiis 101-LAB significantly modulated human gut microbiota at fourth and sixth weeks of trial (anosim analysis, P = 0.001). It also significantly improved peristalsis (P = 0.003) and shortened defecation interval of subjects. The shift of gut microbiota is significantly fit with defecation interval (P = 0.009) and stool shape (P = 0.001) of subjects.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that Vigiis 101-LAB promotes human intestinal health with improvement of peristalsis and fecal quality. The gut modulation effects of Vigiis 101-LAB subsequently raised the abundance of vitamin B7, vitamin K, pyrimidine and purine biosynthesis pathways. Vigiis 101-LAB may promote peristalsis via purinergic pathway and possibly conferring prophylactic benefits against irritable bowel syndrome with constipation. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Comprehensive Safety Assessment of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei NTU 101 Through Integrated Genotypic and Phenotypic Analysis

Probiotics, as defined by the World Health Organization, are live microorganisms that, when consumed in sufficient quantities, provide health benefits to the host. Although some countries have approved specific probiotic species for use in food, safety concerns may still arise with individual strains. Lacticaseibacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei NTU 101 (NTU 101), isolated from the gut of healthy infants, has demonstrated various probiotic effects and shown safety in a prior 28-day animal feeding study. To further verify its safety and mitigate potential risks, we performed a comprehensive genotypic and phenotypic safety evaluation in accordance with the European Food Safety Authority guidelines for safety assessment through whole genome sequencing and related literature. In this research, minimum inhibitory concentration testing identified NTU 101's resistance to chloramphenicol; however, subsequent gene analysis confirmed no associated risk of resistance. Assessments of safety, including biogenic amine content, hemolytic activity, mucin degradation, and D-lactic acid production, indicated a low level of risk. Additionally, a repeated-dose 90-day oral toxicity study in Sprague-Dawley rats revealed no toxicity at a dose of 2000 mg/kg body weight, further supporting the strain's safety for consumption. Based on these comprehensive analyses, NTU 101 is considered safe for regular consumption as a health supplement.

Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei NTU 101 prevents obesity by regulating AMPK pathways and gut microbiota in obese rat

This study assessed the anti-obesity effects of Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei NTU 101 (NTU 101) both in vitro and in vivo. Initially, the cytotoxicity and lipid accumulation inhibitory effects of NTU 101 on 3T3-L1 cells were evaluated using the MTT assay and oil red O assay, respectively. Subsequently, the anti-obesity effects of NTU 101 were investigated in high-fat diet-induced obese rat. Moreover, western blotting was performed to measure the obesity-related protein expression of PPARα, PPARβ, PPARγ, C/EBPα, C/EBPβ, ATGL, p-p38 MAPK, p-ERK1/2, p-AMPK and CPT-1 in both 3T3-L1 adipocytes and adipose and liver tissues. Treatment with 16 × 108 CFU/mL NTU 101 reduced lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by more than 50 %. Oral administration of NTU 101 significantly attenuated body weight gain, as well as adipose tissue weight. NTU 101 administration enhanced fatty acid oxidation increasing expression levels of PPARα, CPT-1, and p-AMPK proteins in liver tissue, while simultaneously inhibited adipogenesis by reducing PPARγ and C/EBPα proteins in adipose tissue. Furthermore, NTU 101 supplementation positively modulated the composition of gut microbiota, notably increasing the abundance of Akkermansiaceae. This present study suggests that NTU 101 exerts anti-obesity effects by regulating gut microbiota, fatty acid oxidation, lipolysis and adipogenesis.

The Enhancement of Regulatory T Cell Maturation and Th1/Th2 Balance through FOXP3 Expression by Lactobacillus paracasei in an Ovalbumin-Induced Allergic Skin Animal Model

Chronic allergic skin conditions, including atopic dermatitis (AD), are characterized by pruritus, erythema, xerosis, desquamation, and inflammation, significantly impacting quality of life. Long-term steroid use, while common in treatment, carries the risk of adverse effects. Previous studies have demonstrated the potential of Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei NTU 101 (NTU 101) in alleviating AD symptoms from a preventive perspective. This study, however, focuses on exploring NTU 101's therapeutic potential by investigating its effects on regulatory T cell (Treg) maturation and Th1/Th2 balance. The results revealed that NTU 101 administration effectively reduced serum IgE levels and inflammatory cell infiltration in the skin, leading to a significant improvement in both epidermal and dermal thickness in the AD model. Additionally, NTU 101 modulated the immune response by increasing the proportion of CD4+/IL-4+ (Th2) cells in the spleen and concurrently enhancing FOXP3 expression in CD4+/CD25+ cells, which is critical for Treg cell development. This immune modulation was further associated with a rebalancing of the Th1/Th2 ratio, achieved by increasing the proportion of CD4+/IFN-γ+ (Th1) cells. Moreover, NTU 101 influenced the proportion of CD4+IL-17+ (Th17) cells, thereby supporting neutrophil maturation and promoting allergen clearance, ultimately mitigating AD symptoms. These findings underscore the potential of NTU 101 not only in managing AD symptoms but also in modulating key immune pathways involved in the pathogenesis of the disease, offering a promising alternative or adjunct to conventional steroid therapies.

The Possible Role of Probiotic Supplementation in Inflammation: A Narrative Review

The fine balance between symbiotic and potentially opportunistic and/or pathogenic microorganisms can undergo quantitative alterations, which, when associated with low intestinal biodiversity, could be responsible for the development of gut inflammation and the so-called "intestinal dysbiosis". This condition is characterized by the disbalance of a fine synergistic mechanism involving the mucosal barrier, the intestinal neuroendocrine system, and the immune system that results in an acute inflammatory response induced by different causes, including viral or bacterial infections of the digestive tract. More frequently, however, dysbiosis is induced slowly and subtly by subliminal causal factors, resulting in a chronic condition related to different diseases affecting the digestive tract and other organs and apparatuses. Studies on animal models, together with studies on humans, highlight the significant role of the gut microbiota and microbiome in the occurrence of inflammatory conditions such as metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs); neurodegenerative, urologic, skin, liver, and kidney pathologies; and premature aging. The blood translocation of bacterial fragments has been found to be one of the processes linked to gut dysbiosis and responsible for the possible occurrence of "metabolic endotoxemia" and systemic inflammation, associated with an increased risk of oxidative stress and related diseases. In this context, supplementation with different probiotic strains has been shown to restore gut eubiosis, especially if administered in long-term treatments. The aim of this review is to describe the anti-inflammatory effects of specific probiotic strains observed in clinical trials and the respective indications, highlighting the differences in efficacy depending on strain, formulation, time and duration of treatment, and dosage used.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of probiotics on oxidative stress in healthy adults

BACKGROUND

The oxidative stress (OS) theory of disease stipulates that a chronic imbalance in the ratio of oxidants to antioxidants in the cellular environment leads to a variety of debilitating conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular and liver diseases. Metabolites in the gut microbiome have been associated with increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS). Many randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have thus investigated the potential of probiotics as a nutraceutical intervention to improve parameters of OS.

AIM

The objective of this paper is to review relevant human RCTs exploring the potential of probiotic supplementation to prevent OS in metabolically healthy individuals.

METHODS

This systematic review and meta-analysis was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021297210). The PubMed database was searched using keywords related to probiotics and OS. In total, out of the 652 studies were screened, 9 respected the inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (SMD: 0.83 mmol/L, 95% CI: 0.25-1.40, p = 0.005) and glutathione (GSH) (SMD: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.13-0.77, p = 0.006) are improved with probiotic ingestion, although there are no alterations in superoxide dismutase (SOD) (SMD: 0.33, 95% CI: -0.27-0.93, p = 0.28). Decreases in plasma concentrations of the OS biomarker malondialdehyde (MDA) (SMD: -0.55, 95% CI: -1.11-0.00, p = 0.05) are also detected.

CONCLUSION

Probiotics improve AS and OS in metabolically healthy individuals. However, more studies are needed to address the moderate to high degree of heterogeneity in methodology.

Lactobacillus paracasei M11-4 isolated from fermented rice demonstrates good antioxidant properties in vitro and in vivo

BACKGROUND

Probiotics are defined as microorganisms that can exert health benefits for the host. Among the recognized probiotics, Lactobacillus paracasei are one of the most frequently used probiotics in humans. The L. paracasei strain M11-4, isolated from fermented rice (which could ferment soymilk within a short curd time) and fermented soymilk presented high viability, acceptable flavor, and antioxidant activity, which revealed that the strain maybe have a potential antioxidant value. Therefore, it is necessary to further explore the antioxidant activity of L. paracasei strain M11-4.

RESULTS

The radical scavenging activities, lipid peroxidation inhibition, and reducing power of L. paracasei M11-4 were the highest in the fermentation culture without cells, whereas the activities of other antioxidant enzymes of L. paracasei M11-4 were high in the cell-free extract and bacterial suspension. Moreover, L. paracasei M11-4 exerted its antioxidant effect by upregulating the gene expression of its antioxidant enzymes - the thioredoxin and glutathione systems - when hydrogen peroxide existed. Supplementation of rats with L. paracasei M11-4 effectively alleviated d-galactose-induced oxidative damage in the liver and serum and prevented d-galactose-induced changes to intestinal microbiota. Supplementation with L. paracasei M11-4 also reduced the elevated expression of thioredoxin and glutathione system genes induced by d-galactose.

CONCLUSION

L. paracasei M11-4 has good antioxidant properties both in vitro and in vivo, and its antioxidant mechanism was studied at the molecular level. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Autochthonous Probiotics in Meat Products: Selection, Identification, and Their Use as Starter Culture

The increasing demand for functional food is pushing the food industry to innovate the conventional and well-known foods. Producing functional foods, especially with probiotics in meat products, is an intricate and multistage task that involves: the selection of microorganisms with probiotic potential, the identification at strain level, and the evaluation of probiotic strains in the processing of meat products. The resistance to digestion, followed by the successful colonization in the small intestine and the safety are the main criteria used to select and identify (at strain level) a probiotic, as reported in recent studies about the autochthonous microbiota of meat products. Further insertion (as starter culture) in a meat system for fermentation is the simplest approach to obtain a probiotic meat product. Among the innumerous microorganisms naturally found in meat products, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) play a central role by fitting in both probiotic and meat products processing criteria.