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

Metabolic modelling reveals increased autonomy and antagonism in type 2 diabetic gut microbiota

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) presents a global health concern, with evidence highlighting the role of the human gut microbiome in metabolic diseases. This study employs metabolic modelling to elucidate changes in host-microbiome interactions in T2D. Glucose levels, diet, 16S sequences and metadata were collected for 1866 individuals. In addition, microbial community models, and ecological interactions were simulated for the gut microbiomes. Our findings revealed a significant decrease in metabolic fluxes provided by the host's diet to the microbiome in T2D patients, accompanied by increased within-community exchanges. Moreover, the diabetic microbiomes shift towards increased exploitative ecological interactions at the expense of collaborative interactions. The reduced microbiome-to-host butyrate flux, along with decreased fluxes of amino acids (including tryptophan), nucleotides, and B vitamins from the host's diet, further highlight the dysregulation in microbial-host interactions in diabetes. In addition, microbiomes of T2D patients exhibit enrichment in energy metabolism, indicative of increased metabolic activity and antagonism. This study sheds light on the increased microbiome autonomy and antagonism accompanying diabetes, and provides candidate metabolic targets for intervention studies and experimental validation.

Transformation of cell wall pectin profile during postharvest ripening process alters drying behavior and regulates the sugar content of dried plums

This study evaluated the effects of postharvest ripening (0-6 days, D0-6) on cell wall pectin profile, infrared-assisted hot air-drying characteristics, and sugar content. Results showed that during postharvest ripening progress, the content of water-soluble pectin (WSP) and chelate-soluble pectin (CSP) increased while the content of Na2CO3-soluble pectin (NSP) and hemicellulose (HC) decreased. In addition, the average molecular weight of WSP increased while the average molecular weight of NSP decreased. Secondly, the drying time of plums with different postharvest ripening periods was in the order: D3 < D4 < D2 < D1 < D0 < D5 < D6. Furthermore, the sugar content of dried plums was mainly influenced by drying time, with three stages of sugar changes observed, tied to moisture content: (1) Sucrose hydrolyzes (50-85%); (2) Fructose and glucose degrade (15-50%); (3) Sorbitol degrades (15-42%). These findings indicate that the transformation of cell wall pectin profile during the postharvest ripening process alters drying behavior and regulates the sugar content of dried plums. CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS STUDIED IN THIS ARTICLE: Galacturonic acid (PubChem CID: 439215); Acetone (PubChem CID: 180); Distilled water (PubChem CID: 962); Trans-1,2-Diaminocyclohexane-N, N, N, N'-tetraacetic acid (PubChem CID: 2723845); Na2CO3 (PubChem CID: 10340); Glucose (PubChem CID: 5793); fructose (PubChem CID: 2723872) sucrose (PubChem CID: 5988) sorbitol (PubChem CID: 5780) and Sodium borohydride (PubChem CID: 4311764).

The key to intestinal health: a review and perspective on food additives

In this review, we explore the effects of food additives on intestinal health. Food additives, such as preservatives, antioxidants and colorants, are widely used to improve food quality and extend shelf life. However, their effects on intestinal microecology May pose health risks. Starting from the basic functions of food additives and the importance of intestinal microecology, we analyze in detail how additives affect the diversity of intestinal flora, oxidative stress and immune responses. Additionally, we examine the association between food additives and intestinal disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome, and how the timing, dosage, and individual differences affect the body's response to additives. We also assess the safety and regulatory policies of food additives and explore the potential of natural additives. Finally, we propose future research directions, emphasizing the refinement of risk assessment methods and the creation of safer, innovative additives.

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.

Maternal Serum Polyols and Its Link to Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Population-Based Nested Case-Control Study

CONTEXT

Sugar alcohols (also called polyols) are regarded as a "healthy" sugar substitute. One of the possible reasons for their safe use in pregnant women is their natural origin and the presence of polyols in maternal and fetal samples during normal human gestation. But little is known about the association between circulating sugar alcohols levels and maternal metabolic disorders during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to detect the concentration of the polyols in participants with and without gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and to investigate the association between maternal serum levels of polyols and GDM, as well as newborn outcomes.

METHODS

A nested population-based case-control study was conducted in 109 women with and without GDM. Maternal concentrations of serum erythritol, sorbitol, and xylitol in the fasting state were quantified using a time of flight mass spectrometry system.

RESULT

In women with GDM, serum concentrations of erythritol and sorbitol were higher, but serum concentrations of xylitol were lower than those in women without GDM. Per 1-SD increment of Box-Cox-transformed concentrations of erythritol and sorbitol were associated with the increased odds of GDM by 43% and 155% (95% CI 1.07-1.92 and 95% CI 1.77-3.69), while decreased odds were found for xylitol by 25% (95% CI 0.57-1.00). Additionally, per 1-SD increase of Box-Cox-transformed concentrations of serum sorbitol was associated with a 52% increased odds of large for gestational age newborns controlling for possible confounders (95% CI 1.00-2.30).

CONCLUSION

Maternal circulating sugar alcohols levels during pregnancy were significantly associated with GDM. These findings provide the potential roles of polyols on maternal metabolic health during pregnancy.

Differential responses of primary neuron-secreted MCP-1 and IL-9 to type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease-associated metabolites

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is implicated as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia. In this work, we investigated neuroinflammatory responses of primary neurons to potentially circulating, blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeable metabolites associated with AD, T2D, or both. We identified nine metabolites associated with protective or detrimental properties of AD and T2D in literature (lauric acid, asparagine, fructose, arachidonic acid, aminoadipic acid, sorbitol, retinol, tryptophan, niacinamide) and stimulated primary mouse neuron cultures with each metabolite before quantifying cytokine secretion via Luminex. We employed unsupervised clustering, inferential statistics, and partial least squares discriminant analysis to identify relationships between cytokine concentration and disease-associations of metabolites. We identified MCP-1, a cytokine associated with monocyte recruitment, as differentially abundant between neurons stimulated by metabolites associated with protective and detrimental properties of AD and T2D. We also identified IL-9, a cytokine that promotes mast cell growth, to be differentially associated with T2D. Indeed, cytokines, such as MCP-1 and IL-9, released from neurons in response to BBB-permeable metabolites associated with T2D may contribute to AD development by downstream effects of neuroinflammation.

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.

Bibliometric Analysis of Clinical Trials on the Effect of Sugar Alcohol Consumption on Oral Health: Trends, Insights, and Future Directions (1967-2024)

In recent years, the quest for healthier alternatives to sugar has led to the widespread use of sugar alcohol in various food and beverage products. Sugar alcohols, such as xylitol, sorbitol, and erythritol, are popular substitutes due to their sweet taste and lower calorie content than sucrose. Beyond their role in calorie reduction, sugar alcohols have garnered attention for their potential impact on oral health. The bibliometric analysis of clinical trials on sugar alcohol and oral health in PubMed reveals a dynamic and multifaceted research landscape shaped by various factors. Fluctuations in publication rates over time suggest influences such as shifts in research interests, technological advancements, regulatory changes, and evolving consumer behaviors. Key authors like Makinen KK, Makinen PL, and Soderling E emerge as prolific contributors with collaborative solid networks within the research community. The University of Turku in Finland has been identified as the highest contributing university, while Caries Research is the most contributing journal based on the number of clinical trials published. The country-wise analysis highlights Italy and the United States as substantial contributors, with diverse trajectories of research activity observed across nations. The subject-specific words with the highest cooccurrence are xylitol, dental caries, chewing gum, Streptococcus mutans, and saliva. Thematic analysis dives deep into how sugar alcohols relate to oral health, using different methods to study their effectiveness, safety, and how they affect the oral microbiome. The analysis of topic trends indicates ongoing exploration of sorbitol and xylitol, with an increasing emphasis on the potential advantages of xylitol. Additionally, there is notable attention on cariostatic agents, strategies for dental caries prevention, and the emergence of novel research domains like probiotics and erythritol, showcasing the dynamic evolution of oral health research focuses and developments. Overall, this analysis provides valuable insights into the distribution and trends of clinical trial publications, contributing to a nuanced understanding of the research landscape in sugar alcohol and oral health.

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.

The effects of β-mannanase supplementation on growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, cecal microbial communities, and short-chain fatty acid production in broiler chickens fed diets with different metabolizable energy levels

This study assessed the effects of β-mannanase (BM) supplementation on growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, cecal microbial communities, and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production in broiler chickens fed diets with different metabolizable energy (ME) levels. A total of 1,296 male 1-d-old Cobb 500 broilers were randomly distributed in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement (3 ME levels × 0 or 200 g/ton BM), with 6 replicates per treatment combination. The 3 ME levels were 3,000 (ME1), 2,930 (ME2), and 2,860 (ME3) kcal/kg, respectively, during the 0 to 3 wk-old stages and 3,150 (ME1), 3,080 (ME2), and 3,010 (ME3) kcal/kg, respectively, during the 3 to 6 wk-old stages. Reducing ME levels increased broiler feed intake (P = 0.036) and decreased average daily gain (ADG, P = 0.002) during the entire period. While BM supplementation increased ADG (P = 0.002) and improved the feed conversion ratio (P = 0.001) during the 0 to 3 wk-old stages, with no effect during the 3 to 6 wk-old stages. Overall, reducing ME levels increased pancreatic lipase (P = 0.045) and amylase (P = 0.013) activity and duodenal amylase activity (P = 0.047). Notably, BM supplementation significantly increased pancreatic lipase activity (P = 0.015) and increased lipase (P = 0.029) and amylase (P = 0.025) activities in the jejunal chyme. Although diet or enzyme supplementation did not affect microbial diversity, significant differences in microbial communities were observed. At the genus level, decreasing ME levels significantly affected the average abundances of Tyzzerella (P = 0.028), Candidatus_Bacilloplasma (P = 0.001), Vibrio (P = 0.005), and Anaerotruncus (P = 0.026) among groups, whereas BM supplementation reduced the average abundances of Escherichia-Shigella (P = 0.048) and increased the average abundances of Barnesiella (P = 0.047), Ruminococcus (P = 0.020), Alistipes (P = 0.050), and Lachnospiraceae_unclassified (P = 0.009). SCFA concentrations strongly depended on bacterial community composition, and BM supplementation increased acetic acid (P = 0.004), propionic acid (P = 0.016), and total SCFA concentrations. In conclusion, BM supplementation improved the performance of younger broilers, and both enzyme supplementation and reduced ME levels positively affected digestive enzyme activity and intestinal microflora.

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.