Fecal microbiota changes with fermented kimchi intake regulated either formation or advancement of colon adenoma

Probiotics and prebiotics: new treatment strategies for oral potentially malignant disorders and gastrointestinal precancerous lesions

Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) and gastrointestinal precancerous lesions (GPLs) are major public health concerns because of their potential to progress to cancer. Probiotics, prebiotics, and engineered probiotics can positively influence the prevention and management of OPMDs and GPLs. This review aims to comprehensively review the application status of probiotics, prebiotics and engineered probiotics in OPMDs and GPLs, explore their potential mechanisms of action, and anticipate their future clinical use.

The Development and Evaluation of a Literature-Based Dietary Index for Gut Microbiota

The aim of the study was to develop and evaluate a novel dietary index for gut microbiota (DI-GM) that captures dietary composition related to gut microbiota profiles. We conducted a literature review of longitudinal studies on the association of diet with gut microbiota in adult populations and extracted those dietary components with evidence of beneficial or unfavorable effects. Dietary recall data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2005-2010, n = 3812) were used to compute the DI-GM, and associations with biomarkers of gut microbiota diversity (urinary enterodiol and enterolactone) were examined using linear regression. From a review of 106 articles, 14 foods or nutrients were identified as components of the DI-GM, including fermented dairy, chickpeas, soybean, whole grains, fiber, cranberries, avocados, broccoli, coffee, and green tea as beneficial components, and red meat, processed meat, refined grains, and high-fat diet (≥40% of energy from fat) as unfavorable components. Each component was scored 0 or 1 based on sex-specific median intakes, and scores were summed to develop the overall DI-GM score. In the NHANES, DI-GM scores ranged from 0-13 with a mean of 4.8 (SE = 0.04). Positive associations between DI-GM and urinary enterodiol and enterolactone were observed. The association of the novel DI-GM with markers of gut microbiota diversity demonstrates the potential utility of this index for gut health-related studies.

Re-evaluation of a microbiological acceptable daily intake for tylosin based on its impact on human intestinal microflora

As veterinary drugs available for fish is very restricted, there is growing trials for repurposing livestock drugs as aquatic animal drugs. Tylosin is one of the most effective antibiotics to treat bacterial infections approved for livestock, and would be used in fish. Hence, we investigated the toxicological and microbiological aspects of tylosin to establish health-based guidance value (HBGV) and maximum residue limit (MRL) in fishes, and reevaluated the microbiological acceptable daily intake (mADI) based on updated relevant data and international guildeline. Lastly, exposure assessment was performed to confirm the appropriateness of MRL. By investigating available microbiologcial studies on tylosin, the microbiological point of departure was determined as 0.308 μg/mL, which was mean 50% minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC50), obtained from the Food Safety Committee of Japan (FSCJ) evaluation report. Furthermore, as a factor for the derivation of mADI, the volume of colon content was recently changed to 500 mL in compliance with the International Cooperation on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Registration of Veterinary Medicinal Products (VICH) guidelines. This was previously defined as the mass of colon content (220 g). We applied correction factor 0.224 to the mean MIC50 for tylosin in the equation of mADI, since the drug is transformed to metabolites with reduced activity prior to entering the colon and bound to fecal materials within the colon of human. The mADI was evaluated as 0.01 mg/kg bw/day. Finally, the hazard index, calculated by dividing the estimated chronic dietary exposure by mADI, did not exceed 100%, suggesting that chronic dietary exposure to tylosin residues from veterinary use was unlikely to be a public health concern. Overall, this study contributes significantly in updating HBGV by application of the concept of mADI for the first time in Korea based on the revised microbiological risk assessment guidelines and in providing scientific rationale for the risk management of veterinary drug residues in food.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43188-023-00179-z.

Akkermansia muciniphila and Alcohol-Related Liver Diseases. A Systematic Review

SCOPE

Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) are Gram negative commensal bacteria, degrading mucin in the intestinal mucosa, modulating intestinal permeability and inflammation in the digestive tract, liver, and blood. Some components can promote the relative abundance of A. muciniphila in the gut microbiota, but lower levels of A. muciniphila are more commonly found in people with obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndromes, or inflammatory digestive diseases. Over-intake of ethanol can also induce a decrease of A. muciniphila, associated with dysregulation of microbial metabolite production, impaired intestinal permeability, induction of chronic inflammation, and production of cytokines.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Using a PRISMA search strategy, a review is performed on the bacteriological characteristics of A. muciniphila, the factors capable of modulating its relative abundance in the digestive tract and its probiotic use in alcohol-related liver diseases (alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatic transplantation, partial hepatectomy).

CONCLUSION

Several studies have shown that supplementation with A. muciniphila can improve ethanol-related hepatic pathologies, and highlight the interest in using this bacterial species as a probiotic.

Total flavonoids of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg inhibits colorectal tumor growth by modulating gut microbiota and metabolites

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg is a dietary supplement in southern China. The total flavonoids of T. hemsleyanum (THTF) can be used for gastrointestinal disease treatment. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis. This study was designed to investigate the effect of THTF on CRC from gut microbiota and fecal metabolomics. THTF (120 mg/kg) oral gavage reduced tumor growth and protected intestinal function (p-p65/p65, ZO-1) in HCT116 xenografts. THTF increased probiotics Bifidobacteriales, Bifidobacteriaceae, Bifidobacterium, Bifidobacterium pseudolongum, and decreased "harmful" bacteria Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, Bacteroidia, Rikenellaceae, Odoribacter, Alistipes richness. Furthermore, THTF restored abnormal fecal metabolite levels. It showed a strong correlation among gut microbiota, metabolites, and tumor weight. Finally, THTF promoted Bifidobacterium pseudolongum growth in vitro, whose cell-free supernatant further inhibited HCT116 cell proliferation and clonogenicity. Together, THTF delays CRC tumor growth by maintaining microbiota homeostasis, restoring fecal metabolites, and protecting intestinal function.

Does kimchi deserve the status of a probiotic food?

Kimchi is a traditional fermented vegetable side dish in Korea and has become a global health food. Kimchi undergoes spontaneous fermentation, mainly by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) originating from its raw ingredients. Numerous LAB, including the genera Leuconostoc, Weissella, and Lactobacillus, participate in kimchi fermentation, reaching approximately 9-10 log colony forming units per gram or milliliter of food. The several health benefits of LAB (e.g., antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties) combined with their probiotic potential in complex diseases including obesity, cancer, atopic dermatitis, and immunomodulatory effect have generated an interest in the health effects of LAB present in kimchi. In order to estimate the potential of kimchi as a probiotic food, we comprehensively surveyed the health functionalities of kimchi and kimchi LAB, and their effects on human gut environment, highlighting the probiotics function.

Interaction between the PNPLA3 Gene and Nutritional Factors on NAFLD Development: The Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study

Genetic and nutritional factors contribute to the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); however, gene-diet interactions in NAFLD development are poorly understood. In this case-control study, a large dataset from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study cohort (n = 72,299) comprising genomic data, medical records, social history, and dietary data was used. We investigated the interactions between the PNPLA3 rs738409 genotype and nutritional factors and their possible effect on the risk of NAFLD development in 2950 patients with NAFLD and 12,907 controls. In the PNPLA3 risk allele group, high protein, fat, sodium, phosphorus, niacin, and vitamin B6 intakes were associated with a decreased risk of NAFLD. In the non-risk allele group, only high fat intake was associated with a decreased risk of NAFLD. Among these nutrients, high sodium intake had a significant protective interaction with the PNPLA3 genotype against NAFLD (p = 0.002). Among salty foods, only kimchi had a significant protective effect against the PNPLA3 genotype (p = 0.012). Thus, the PNPLA3 genotype is differentially associated with nutritional factors. In particular, it interacts with kimchi, a fermented vegetable dish. Therefore, fermented vegetables may serve as a tailored therapeutic food for people with the PNPLA3 risk allele.