Different Reactions in Each Enterotype Depending on the Intake of Probiotic Yogurt Powder

Enterotype-Dependent Probiotic-Mediated Changes in the Male Rat Intestinal Microbiome In Vivo and In Vitro

Beneficial properties of lactic acid bacteria have been known long ago, but particular interest in probiotics has arisen in the last two decades due to the understanding of the important role of intestinal microflora in human life. Thus, the ability of probiotics to support healthy homeostasis of gut microbiomes has received particular attention. Here, we evaluated the effect of a probiotic consisting of Bifidobacterium longum and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei on the gut microbiome of male rats, assessed their persistence in the fecal biota, and compared probiotic-mediated changes in vitro and in vivo. As expected, microbiomes of two enterotypes were identified in the feces of 21 animals, and it turned out that even a single dose of the probiotic altered the microbial composition. Upon repeated administration, the E1 biota temporarily acquired properties of the E2 type. Being highly sensitive to the intervention of probiotic bacteria at the phylum and genus levels, the fecal microbiomes retained the identity of their enterotypes when transferred to a medium optimized for gut bacteria. For the E2 biota, even similarities between probiotic-mediated reactions in vitro and in vivo were detected. Therefore, fecal-derived microbial communities are proposed as model consortia to optimize the response of resident bacteria to various agents.

Dynamics of gut microbiota during pregnancy in women with TPOAb-positive subclinical hypothyroidism: a prospective cohort study

Background

Anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) positivity can contribute to inhibit thyroxine synthesis. Gut microbiota can interact with metabolic or immune diseases. However, dynamics of gut microbiota from the second (T2) to the third trimester (T3) in women with TPOAb-positive/negative subclinical hypothyroidism (TPOAb⁺/TPOAb⁻ SCH) have not been reported. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate whether gut microbiota can be potential therapeutic targets for managing TPOAb⁺ SCH.

Methods

In this single-center prospective cohort study, we observed gut microbiota dynamics by sequencing 16S rRNA from fecal samples collected in T2 (20–23^+ 6 weeks) and T3 (28–33^+ 6 weeks). TPOAb⁺/TPOAb⁻ SCH were stratified depending on whether or not they used levothyroxine (LT₄) during the pregnancy (LT₄⁺/LT₄⁻). Microbiome bioinformatics analyses were performed using QIIME2. The linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) was used for the quantitative analysis of biomarkers. Functional profiling was performed with PICRUSt2.

Results

Distinct gut microbiota dynamics from T2 to T3 were noted in the TPOAb⁻ (n = 68) and TPOAb⁺ (n = 64) SCH groups. The TPOAb⁺ LT₄⁻ group was characterized by enriched bacterial amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) of Prevotella in T2 and Bacteria, Lachnospirales, Lachnospiraceae, Blautia, and Agathobacter in T3 and by depleted ASVs of Gammaproteobacteria, Enterobacterales, and Enterobacteriaceae in T2 and Actinobacteriota, Coriobacteriia, Actinobacteria, Coriobacteriales, Bifidobacteriales, Bifidobacteriaceae, Bifidobacterium, Dorea formicigenerans, and Bifidobacterium longum in T3. The TPOAb⁺ LT₄⁺ group was characterized by enriched bacterial ASVs of Blautia, Streptococcus salivarius, and Bifidobacterium longum in T3 and by depleted ASVs of Bacteroidota, Bacteroidia, Bacteroidales, and Prevotella in T2 and Agathobacter in T3. Moreover, we identified 53 kinds of metabolic functions that were mainly involved in sugar, lipid, and amino acid metabolism.

Conclusions

Our results indicated that low dynamics of gut microbiota composition and high dynamics of its metabolic function from T2 to T3 were associated with TPOAb⁺ SCH. We concluded that gut microbiota could be new targets for treatment of TPOAb⁺ SCH during pregnancy.

Trial registration

This study was retrospectively registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (registration number ChiCTR2100047175) on June 10, 2021.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12884-022-04923-5.

Effect of Fermented Red Ginseng Concentrate Intake on Stool Characteristic, Biochemical Parameters, and Gut Microbiota in Elderly Korean Women

Fermented red ginseng (FRG) has been used as a general stimulant and herbal medicine for health promotion in Asia for thousands of years. Few studies have investigated the effects of FRG containing prebiotics on the gut microbiota. Here, 29 Korean women aged ≥ 50 years were administered FRG for three weeks to determine its effect on stool characteristics, biochemical parameters, and gut microbiome. Gut microbial DNA was subjected to 16S rRNA V3–V4 region sequencing to assess microbial distribution in different stages. Additionally, the stool consistency, frequency of bowel movements, and biochemical parameters of blood were evaluated. We found that FRG intake improved stool consistency and increased the frequency of bowel movements compared to before intake. Biochemical parameters such as glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase decreased and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased with FRG intake. Gut microbiome analysis revealed 20 specific bacteria after three weeks of FRG intake. Additionally, 16 pathways correlated with the 20 specific bacteria were enhanced after red ginseng intake. In conclusion, FRG promoted health in elderly women by lowering blood glucose levels and improving bowel movement frequency. The increase in bacteria observed with FRG ingestion supports these findings.

Intake of MPRO3 over 4 Weeks Reduces Glucose Levels and Improves Gastrointestinal Health and Metabolism

Human gut microbiota are involved in different metabolic processes, such as digestion and nutrient synthesis, among others. For the elderly, supplements are a major means of maintaining health and improving intestinal homeostasis. In this study, 51 elderly women were administered MPRO3 (n = 17), a placebo (n = 16), or both (MPRO3: 1 week, placebo: 3 weeks; n = 18) for 4 weeks. The fecal microbiota were analyzed by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene V3–V4 super-variable region. The dietary fiber intake increased, and glucose levels decreased with 4-week MPRO3 intake. Reflux, indigestion, and diarrhea syndromes gradually improved with MPRO3 intake, whereas constipation was maintained. The stool shape also improved. Bifidobacterium animalis, B. pseudolongum, Lactobacillus plantarum, and L. paracasei were relatively more abundant after 4 weeks of MPRO3 intake than in those subjects after a 1-week intake. Bifidobacterium and B. longum abundances increased after 1 week of MPRO3 intake but decreased when the intake was discontinued. Among different modules and pathways, all 10 modules analyzed showed a relatively high association with 4-week MPRO3 intake. The mineral absorption pathway and cortisol biosynthesis and secretion pathways correlated with the B. animalis and B. pseudolongum abundances at 4 weeks. Therefore, 4-week MPRO3 intake decreased the fasting blood glucose level and improved intestinal health and metabolism.