Dietary Lactobacillus plantarum LS/07 and inulin in the management of chronic disease risk factors

Soluble Dietary Fibers as Antihyperlipidemic Agents: A Comprehensive Review to Maximize Their Health Benefits

The number of hypercholesterolemic people is increasing rapidly worldwide, with elevated lipid profiles representing a major risk factor of coronary heart diseases. Dietary intervention was shown to improve the lipid profile, thus enhancing the quality of life. Dietary fiber is a nondigestible form of carbohydrates, due to the lack of the digestive enzyme in humans required to digest fiber, and is classified according to its water solubility properties as either soluble (SDF) or insoluble dietary fiber (IDF). Consumption of SDF is associated with several health benefits such as reduced lipid levels, lower blood pressure, improved blood glucose control, improved immune function, and reduced inflammation. SDF has been shown to lower blood cholesterol by several action mechanisms including directly due to the gelling, mucilaginous, and viscous fiber nature, and indirectly due to its fermented products and modulation of the gut microbiome. This review aims to provide a holistic overview on how SDF impacts the lipid profile. We start by providing an overview of the chemical structure of the major SDFs including mucilage, gums (gum arabic and guar gum), pectin, and inulin.

The regulatory effects of second-generation antipsychotics on lipid metabolism: Potential mechanisms mediated by the gut microbiota and therapeutic implications

Second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) are the mainstay of treatment for schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric diseases but cause a high risk of disruption to lipid metabolism, which is an intractable therapeutic challenge worldwide. Although the exact mechanisms underlying this lipid disturbance are complex, an increasing body of evidence has suggested the involvement of the gut microbiota in SGA-induced lipid dysregulation since SGA treatment may alter the abundance and composition of the intestinal microflora. The subsequent effects involve the generation of different categories of signaling molecules by gut microbes such as endogenous cannabinoids, cholesterol, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bile acids (BAs), and gut hormones that regulate lipid metabolism. On the one hand, these signaling molecules can directly activate the vagus nerve or be transported into the brain to influence appetite via the gut-brain axis. On the other hand, these molecules can also regulate related lipid metabolism via peripheral signaling pathways. Interestingly, therapeutic strategies directly targeting the gut microbiota and related metabolites seem to have promising efficacy in the treatment of SGA-induced lipid disturbances. Thus, this review provides a comprehensive understanding of how SGAs can induce disturbances in lipid metabolism by altering the gut microbiota.

Diet-Related Changes of Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Blood and Feces in Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome

Obesity-related illnesses are one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Metabolic syndrome has been associated with numerous health issues. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) have been shown to have multiple effects throughout the body, both directly as well as through specific G protein-coupled receptors. The main SCFAs produced by the gut microbiota are acetate, propionate, and butyrate, which are absorbed in varying degrees from the large intestine, with some acting mainly locally and others systemically. Diet has the potential to influence the gut microbial composition, as well as the type and amount of SCFAs produced. High fiber-containing foods and supplements increase the production of SCFAs and SCFA-producing bacteria in the gut and have been shown to have bodyweight-lowering effects. Dietary supplements, which increase SCFA production, could open the way for novel approaches to weight loss interventions. The aim of this review is to analyze the variations of fecal and blood SCFAs in obesity and metabolic syndrome through a systematic search and analysis of existing literature.