Long-term consumption of the sugar substitute sorbitol alters gut microbiome and induces glucose intolerance in mice

Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of Polygonatum kingianum processed by the traditional method of "Nine Cycles of Steaming and Sun-Drying"

Polygonatum kingianum Coll. et (Hemsl) is a famous Chinese traditional food and medicine analogous plant. The rhizome of P. kingianum showed a decrease in levels of alkaloids, amino acids and derivatives, terpenoids, and an increase in organic acid and saccharides when it was processed by the traditional method of "Nine Cycles of Steaming and Sun-Drying". The relative content of 341 metabolites were increased (fold change, FC > 2; variable importance in projection, VIP > 1 and P-value, P < 0.05); while 456 metabolites were decreased (FC < 0.5, VIP > 1, and P < 0.05). The changes in chemical components result in a decrease in numb taste and an increase in sweetness. The increased antioxidant activity was observed in the processed samples. Together, this work has advanced the mechanism of reducing numb taste and enhancing antioxidant activity in the resource plants, such as P. kingianum, processed by the traditional method.

Sorbitol Destroyed Intestinal Microfold Cells (M Cells) Development through Inhibition of PDE4-Mediated RANKL Expression

Objective

Microfold cells (M cells) are specific intestinal epithelial cells for monitoring and transcytosis of antigens, microorganisms, and pathogens in the intestine. However, the mechanism for M-cell development remained elusive.

Materials and Methods

Real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence, and western blotting were performed to analyze the effect of sorbitol-regulated M-cell differentiation in vivo and in vitro, and luciferase and chromatin Immunoprecipitation were used to reveal the mechanism through which sorbitol-modulated M-cell differentiation.

Results

Herein, in comparison to the mannitol group (control group), we found that intestinal M-cell development was inhibited in response to sorbitol treatment as evidenced by impaired enteroids accompanying with decreased early differentiation marker Annexin 5, Marcksl1, Spib, sox8, and mature M-cell marker glycoprotein 2 expression, which was attributed to downregulation of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-В ligand (RANKL) expression in vivo and in vitro. Mechanically, in the M-cell model, sorbitol stimulation caused a significant upregulation of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) phosphorylation, leading to decreased protein kinase A (PKA)/cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) activation, which further resulted in CREB retention in cytosolic and attenuated CREB binds to RANKL promoter to inhibit RANKL expression. Interestingly, endogenous PKA interacted with CREB, and this interaction was destroyed by sorbitol stimulation. Most importantly, inhibition of PDE4 by dipyridamole could rescue the inhibitory effect of sorbitol on intestinal enteroids and M-cell differentiation and mature in vivo and in vitro.

Conclusion

These findings suggested that sorbitol suppressed intestinal enteroids and M-cell differentiation and matured through PDE4-mediated RANKL expression; targeting to inhibit PDE4 was sufficient to induce M-cell development.

Long-term sorbitol consumption affects the hippocampus and alters cognitive function in aged mice

The systemic effects of the artificial sweetener sorbitol on older adult individuals have not been elucidated. We assessed the effects of sorbitol consumption on cognitive and gingival health in a mouse model. Aged mice were fed 5% sorbitol for 3 months before their behavior was assessed, and brain and gingival tissues were collected. Long-term sorbitol consumption inhibited gingival tissue aging in aged mice. However, it caused cognitive decline and decreased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus. Sorbitol consumption did not affect homeostatic function; however, it may exert effects within the brain, particularly in the hippocampus.

Effect of low-and non-calorie sweeteners on the gut microbiota: A review of clinical trials and cross-sectional studies

Use of non-nutritive sweeteners (NNSs) has increased worldwide in recent decades. However, evidence from preclinical studies shows that sweetener consumption may induce glucose intolerance through changes in the gut microbiota, which raises public health concerns. As studies conducted on humans are lacking, the aim of this review was to gather and summarize the current evidence on the effects of NNSs on human gut microbiota. Only clinical trials and cross-sectional studies were included in the review. Regarding NNSs (i.e, saccharin, sucralose, aspartame, and stevia), only two of five clinical trials showed significant changes in gut microbiota composition after the intervention protocol. These studies concluded that saccharin and sucralose impair glycemic tolerance. In three of the four cross-sectional studies an association between NNSs and the microbial composition was observed. All three clinical trials on polyols (i.e, xylitol) showed prebiotic effects on gut microbiota, but these studies had multiple limitations (publication date, dosage, duration) that jeopardize their validity. The microbial response to NNSs consumption could be strongly mediated by the gut microbial composition at baseline. Further studies in which the potential personalized microbial response to NNSs consumption is acknowledged, and that include longer intervention protocols, larger cohorts, and more realistic sweetener dosage are needed to broaden these findings.

The impact of common pharmaceutical excipients on the gut microbiota

INTRODUCTION

Increasing attention is being afforded to understanding the bidirectional relationships that exist between oral medications and the gut microbiota, in an attempt to optimize pharmacokinetic performance and mitigate unwanted side effects. While a wealth of research has investigated the direct impact of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) on the gut microbiota, the interactions between inactive pharmaceutical ingredients (i.e. excipients) and the gut microbiota are commonly overlooked, despite excipients typically representing over 90% of the final dosage form.

AREAS COVERED

Known excipient-gut microbiota interactions for various classes of inactive pharmaceutical ingredients, including solubilizing agents, binders, fillers, sweeteners, and color additives, are reviewed in detail.

EXPERT OPINION

Clear evidence indicates that orally administered pharmaceutical excipients directly interact with gut microbes and can either positively or negatively impact gut microbiota diversity and composition. However, these relationships and mechanisms are commonly overlooked during drug formulation, despite the potential for excipient-microbiota interactions to alter drug pharmacokinetics and interfere with host metabolic health. The insights derived from this review will inform pharmaceutical scientists with the necessary design considerations for mitigating potential adverse pharmacomicrobiomic interactions when formulating oral dosage forms, ultimately providing clear avenues for improving therapeutic safety and efficacy.

Long-Term Consumption of Sucralose Induces Hepatic Insulin Resistance through an Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase 1/2-Dependent Pathway

Sugar substitutes have been recommended to be used for weight and glycemic control. However, numerous studies indicate that consumption of artificial sweeteners exerts adverse effects on glycemic homeostasis. Although sucralose is among the most extensively utilized sweeteners in food products, the effects and detailed mechanisms of sucralose on insulin sensitivity remain ambiguous. In this study, we found that bolus administration of sucralose by oral gavage enhanced insulin secretion to decrease plasma glucose levels in mice. In addition, mice were randomly allocated into three groups, chow diet, high-fat diet (HFD), and HFD supplemented with sucralose (HFSUC), to investigate the effects of long-term consumption of sucralose on glucose homeostasis. In contrast to the effects of sucralose with bolus administration, the supplement of sucralose augmented HFD-induced insulin resistance and glucose intolerance, determined by glucose and insulin tolerance tests. In addition, we found that administration of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-1/2 inhibitor reversed the effects of sucralose on glucose intolerance and insulin resistance in mice. Moreover, blockade of taste receptor type 1 member 3 (T1R3) by lactisole or pretreatment of endoplasmic reticulum stress inhibitors diminished sucralose-induced insulin resistance in HepG2 cells. Taken together, sucralose augmented HFD-induced insulin resistance in mice, and interrupted insulin signals through a T1R3-ERK1/2-dependent pathway in the liver.

Surrogate fostering of mice prevents prenatal estradiol-induced insulin resistance via modulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis

Introduction

Prenatal and early postnatal development are known to influence future health. We previously reported that prenatal high estradiol (HE) exposure induces insulin resistance in male mice by disrupting hypothalamus development. Because a foster dam can modify a pup's gut microbiota and affect its health later in life, we explored whether surrogate fostering could also influence glucose metabolism in HE offspring and examined mechanisms that might be involved.

Methods

We performed a surrogate fostering experiment in mice and examined the relationship between the metabolic markers associated to insulin resistance and the composition of the gut microbiota.

Results

HE pups raised by HE foster dams (HE-HE) developed insulin resistance, but HE pups fostered by negative control dams (NC-HE) did not. The gut microbiota composition of HE-HE mice differed from that of NC mice raised by NC foster dams (NC-NC), whereas the composition in NC-HE mice was similar to that of NC-NC mice. Compared with NC-NC mice, HE-HE mice had decreased levels of fecal short-chain fatty acids and serum intestinal hormones, increased food intake, and increased hypothalamic neuropeptide Y expression. In contrast, none of these indices differed between NC-HE and NC-NC mice. Spearman correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation between the altered gut microbiota composition and the insulin resistance-related metabolic indicators, indicating involvement of the microbiota-gut-brain axis.

Discussion

Our findings suggest that alterations in the early growth environment may prevent fetal-programmed glucose metabolic disorder via modulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis. These findings offer direction for development of translational solutions for adult diseases associated with aberrant microbial communities in early life.

The Impact of Food Additives on the Abundance and Composition of Gut Microbiota

The gut microbiota has been confirmed as an important part in human health, and is even take as an 'organ'. The interaction between the gut microbiota and host intestinal environment plays a key role in digestion, metabolism, immunity, inflammation, and diseases. The dietary component is a major factor that affects the composition and function of gut microbiota. Food additives have been widely used to improve the color, taste, aroma, texture, and nutritional quality of processed food. The increasing variety and quantity of processed food in diets lead to increased frequency and dose of food additives exposure, especially artificial food additives, which has become a concern of consumers. There are studies focusing on the impact of food additives on the gut microbiota, as long-term exposure to food additives could induce changes in the microbes, and the gut microbiota is related to human health and disease. Therefore, the aim of this review is to summarize the interaction between the gut microbiota and food additives.

Impact of gut-peripheral nervous system axis on the development of diabetic neuropathy

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease caused by a reduction in the production and/or action of insulin, with consequent development of hyperglycemia. Diabetic patients, especially those who develop neuropathy, presented dysbiosis, with an increase in the proportion of pathogenic bacteria and a decrease in the butyrate-producing bacteria. Due to this dysbiosis, diabetic patients presented a weakness of the intestinal permeability barrier and high bacterial product translocation to the bloodstream, in parallel to a high circulating levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α. In this context, we propose here that dysbiosis-induced increased systemic levels of bacterial products, like lipopolysaccharide (LPS), leads to an increase in the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, by Schwann cells and spinal cord of diabetics, being crucial for the development of neuropathy.

The potential use of Zymomonas mobilis for the food industry

Zymomonas mobilis is a gram-negative facultative anaerobic spore, which is generally recognized as a safe. As a promising ethanologenic organism for large-scale bio-ethanol production, Z. mobilis has also shown a good application prospect in food processing and food additive synthesis for its unique physiological characteristics and excellent industrial characteristics. It not only has obvious advantages in food processing and becomes the biorefinery chassis cell for food additives, but also has a certain healthcare effect on human health. Until to now, most of the research is still in theory and laboratory scale, and further research is also needed to achieve industrial production. This review summarized the physiological characteristics and advantages of Z. mobilis in food industry for the first time and further expounds its research status in food industry from three aspects of food additive synthesis, fermentation applications, and prebiotic efficacy, it will provide a theoretical basis for its development and applications in food industry. This review also discussed the shortcomings of its practical applications in the current food industry, and explored other ways to broaden the applications of Z. mobilis in the food industry, to promote its applications in food processing.

Effects of sweeteners on host physiology by intestinal mucosal microbiota: Example-addition sweeteners in Qiweibaizhu Powder on intestinal mucosal microbiota of mice with antibiotic-associated diarrhea

In recent years, sweeteners have gained massive popularity under the trend of limiting sugar intake. Our previous study found that Qiweibaizhu Powder (QWBZP) could improve gut microbiota dysbiosis and has good efficacy in treating antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD). In this study, we investigated the effects of sucrose, sorbitol, xylitol, and saccharin on the intestinal mucosal microbiota of AAD mice treated with QWBZP. When the AAD model was constructed by being gavaged mixed antibiotic solution, Kunming mice were randomly assigned to seven groups: the control (mn) group, the ADD (mm) group, the QWBZP (mq) group, the saccharin + QWBZP (mc) group, the sucrose + QWBZP (ms) group, the xylito + QWBZP (mx) group, and the sorbitol + QWBZP (msl) group. Subsequently, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was used to analyze the intestinal mucosal microbiota composition and abundance. The results showed that feces from AAD mice were diluted and wet and improved diarrhea symptoms with QWBZP and sorbitol. In contrast, the addition of sucrose, saccharin, and xylitol delayed the healing of diarrhea. The relative abundance of intestinal mucosal microbiota showed Glutamicibacter, Robinsoniella, and Blautia were characteristic bacteria of the mx group, Candidatus Arthromitus, and Bacteroidales_S24-7_group as the typical bacteria of the mn group, Clostridium_innocuum_group as the distinct bacteria of the mm group. Mycoplasma and Bifidobacterium as the characteristic bacteria of the ms group. Correlation analysis of typical bacterial genera with metabolic functions shows that Blautia negatively correlates with D-Glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism. Bacteroidales_S24-7_group has a significant negative correlation with the Synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies. The study confirmed that sucrose, sorbitol, xylitol, and saccharin might further influence metabolic function by altering the intestinal mucosal microbiota. Compared to the other sweetener, adding sorbitol to QWBZP was the best therapeutic effect for AAD and increased the biosynthesis and degradation activities. It provides the experimental basis for applying artificial sweeteners in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a reference for further rational development and safe use of artificial sweeteners.