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Nutrition, Gut Microbiome and Metabolism

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A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Prebiotics and Probiotics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (5 July 2024) | Viewed by 32770

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Prof. Dr. Marie-Christine Simon

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Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Nutrition and Microbiota, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany
Interests: nutrition; metabolism; microbiology; inflammation; insulin resistance; diabetes; metabolic diseases; nutritional diseases; lipid metabolism; glucose metabolism; immunity; autoimmunity; cytokines; abdominal; obesity; T lymphocytes; fat; diabetes mellitus; metabolic syndrome; clinical endocrinology; lipids; insulin signaling; insulin; autoantibodies immunoassay; inborn metabolism; gut microbiota; chemokines; gut microbiome; beta cell; human microbiome; IL-17; autoantigens; chemokine CCL2

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The gut, as an endocrine organ, is involved in a variety of metabolic processes. Further, it harbors the gut microbiota, a term comprising the entirety of microorganisms colonizing the human intestine. Interest in the intestinal microbiota has rapidly increased in recent years and it has been proposed as a major factor linking diet with human physiology. The commensal bacteria in the intestine complement human metabolism by processing food components, including some that are non-digestible by humans themselves. The microbial produced metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids, affect various target organs in the organism. For example, by stimulating the secretion of gut hormones, they have important properties regulating metabolism and appetite and contribute to the maintenance of metabolic health or disease such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

However, the majority of known interactions between nutrition, the microbiome and metabolism are mostly associations. Thus, the research field is eager to archive a more in-depth view at the mechanistic level. Therefore, translational approaches that transfer findings from animal to human models are one strategy to gain more insight into the complex interactions between nutrition, the gut microbiome and the host metabolism, together with well-designed human intervention studies.

Therefore, this Special Issue aims to present recent publications that help to elucidate the role of the microbiome and microbial produced metabolites in mediating the effects of diet and the host metabolism on a mechanistic level.

We welcome original research articles and review articles, including meta-analyses, concerning human or animal models on the described topics.

Prof. Dr. Marie-Christine Simon
Guest Editor

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Keywords

adiposity
microbiota
diet–microbiome interactions
precision nutrition
metabolic syndrome
enteroendocrine system
postbiotics

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 1278 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Glucose Metabolizing Properties of Enterobacterial Probiotic Strains In Vitro

by Jules Balanche, Emilie Lahaye, Lisa Bremard, Benjamin Thomas and Sergueï O. Fetissov

Nutrients 2024, 16(16), 2677; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16162677 - 13 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1196

Abstract

Before the absorption in the intestine, glucose encounters gut bacteria, which may serve as a barrier against hyperglycemia by metabolizing glucose. In the present study, we compared the capacity of enterobacterial strains to lower glucose levels in an in vitro model of nutrient-induced bacterial growth. Two probiotic strains, Hafnia alvei HA4597 (H. alvei) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) Nissle 1917, as well as E. coli K12, were studied. To mimic bacterial growth in the gut, a planktonic culture was supplemented twice daily by the Luria Bertani milieu with or without 0.5% glucose. Repeated nutrient provision resulted in the incremental growth of bacteria. However, in the presence of glucose, the maximal growth of both strains of E. coli but not of H. alvei was inhibited. When glucose was added to the culture medium, a continuous decrease in its concentration was observed during each feeding phase. At its highest density, H. alvei displayed more efficient glucose consumption accompanied by a more pronounced downregulation of glucose transporters’ expression than E. coli K12. Thus, the study reveals that the probiotic strain H. alvei HA4597 is more resilient to maintain its growth than E. coli in the presence of 0.5% glucose accompanied by more efficient glucose consumption. This experimental approach offers a new strategy for the identification of probiotics with increased glucose metabolizing capacities potentially useful for the prevention and co-treatment of type 2 diabetes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Gut Microbiome and Metabolism)

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17 pages, 5679 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Beneficial Effects of Synbiotics on the Gut Microbiome in Individuals with Low Fiber Intake: Secondary Analysis of a Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial

by Aakash Mantri, Linda Klümpen, Waldemar Seel, Peter Krawitz, Peter Stehle, Bernd Weber, Leonie Koban, Hilke Plassmann and Marie-Christine Simon

Nutrients 2024, 16(13), 2082; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16132082 - 29 Jun 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2769

Abstract

Insufficient dietary fiber intake can negatively affect the intestinal microbiome and, over time, may result in gut dysbiosis, thus potentially harming overall health. This randomized controlled trial aimed to improve the gut microbiome of individuals with low dietary fiber intake (<25 g/day) during a 7-week synbiotic intervention. The metabolically healthy male participants (n = 117, 32 ± 10 y, BMI 25.66 ± 3.1 kg/m²) were divided into two groups: one receiving a synbiotic supplement (Biotic Junior, MensSana AG, Forchtenberg, Germany) and the other a placebo, without altering their dietary habits or physical activity. These groups were further stratified by their dietary fiber intake into a low fiber group (LFG) and a high fiber group (HFG). Stool samples for microbiome analysis were collected before and after intervention. Statistical analysis was performed using linear mixed effects and partial least squares models. At baseline, the microbiomes of the LFG and HFG were partially separated. After seven weeks of intervention, the abundance of SCFA-producing microbes significantly increased in the LFG, which is known to improve gut health; however, this effect was less pronounced in the HFG. Beneficial effects on the gut microbiome in participants with low fiber intake may be achieved using synbiotics, demonstrating the importance of personalized synbiotics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Gut Microbiome and Metabolism)

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15 pages, 4266 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Causality Investigation between Gut Microbiota, Derived Metabolites, and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Study

by Weiheng Yan, Miaomiao Jiang, Wen Hu, Xiaojun Zhan, Yifan Liu, Jiayi Zhou, Jie Ji, Shan Wang and Jun Tai

Nutrients 2023, 15(21), 4544; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15214544 - 26 Oct 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4395

Abstract

Various studies have highlighted the important associations between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and gut microbiota and related metabolites. Nevertheless, the establishment of causal relationships between these associations remains to be determined. Multiple mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were performed to genetically predict the causative impact of 196 gut microbiota and 83 metabolites on OSA. Two-sample MR was used to assess the potential association, and causality was evaluated using inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, and weighted median (WM) methods. Multivariable MR (MVMR) was employed to ascertain the causal independence between gut microbiota and the metabolites linked to OSA. Additionally, Cochran’s Q test, the MR Egger intercept test and the MR Steiger test were used for the sensitivity analyses. The analysis of the 196 gut microbiota revealed that genus_Ruminococcaceae (UCG009) (P_IVW = 0.010) and genus_Subdoligranulum (P_IVW = 0.041) were associated with an increased risk of OSA onset. Conversely, Family_Ruminococcaceae (P_IVW = 0.030), genus_Coprococcus2 (P_WM = 0.025), genus_Eggerthella (P_IVW = 0.011), and genus_Eubacterium (xylanophilum_group) (P_IVW = 0.001) were negatively related to the risk of OSA. Among the 83 metabolites evaluated, 3-dehydrocarnitine, epiandrosterone sulfate, and leucine were determined to be potential independent risk factors associated with OSA. Moreover, the reverse MR analysis demonstrated a suggestive association between OSA exposure and six microbiota taxa. This study offers compelling evidence regarding the potential beneficial or detrimental causative impact of the gut microbiota and its associated metabolites on OSA risk, thereby providing new insights into the mechanisms of gut microbiome-mediated OSA development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Gut Microbiome and Metabolism)

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16 pages, 6520 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Alterations in Faecal and Serum Metabolic Profiles in Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

by Qixian Yuan, Shuai Zhu, Siqing Yue, Yuqiu Han, Guoping Peng, Lanjuan Li, Yan Sheng and Baohong Wang

Nutrients 2023, 15(13), 2984; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15132984 - 30 Jun 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1725

Abstract

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is a common and multifactorial disease in the elderly that may lead to irreversible vision loss; yet the pathogenesis of AMD remains unclear. In this study, nontargeted metabolomics profiling using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with Q-Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry was applied to discover the metabolic feature differences in both faeces and serum samples between Chinese nonobese subjects with and without nAMD. In faecal samples, a total of 18 metabolites were significantly altered in nAMD patients, and metabolic dysregulations were prominently involved in glycerolipid metabolism and nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism. In serum samples, a total of 29 differential metabolites were founded, involved in caffeine metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, and purine metabolism. Two faecal metabolites (palmitoyl ethanolamide and uridine) and three serum metabolites (4-hydroxybenzoic acid, adrenic acid, and palmitic acid) were selected as potential biomarkers for nAMD. Additionally, the significant correlations among dysregulated neuroprotective, antineuroinflammatory, or fatty acid metabolites in faecal and serum and IM dysbiosis were found. This comprehensive metabolomics study of faeces and serum samples showed that alterations in IM-mediated neuroprotective metabolites may be involved in the pathophysiology of AMD, offering IM-based nutritional therapeutic targets for nAMD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Gut Microbiome and Metabolism)

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Review

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20 pages, 1731 KiB

Open AccessReview

Correlation between Alzheimer’s Disease and Gastrointestinal Tract Disorders

by Julia Kuźniar, Patrycja Kozubek, Magdalena Czaja and Jerzy Leszek

Nutrients 2024, 16(14), 2366; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16142366 - 21 Jul 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3134

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia globally. The pathogenesis is multifactorial and includes deposition of amyloid-β in the central nervous system, presence of intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles and a decreased amount of synapses. It remains uncertain what causes the progression of the disease. Nowadays, it is suggested that the brain is connected to the gastrointestinal tract, especially the enteric nervous system and gut microbiome. Studies have found a positive association between AD and gastrointestinal diseases such as periodontitis, Helicobacter pylori infection, inflammatory bowel disease and microbiome disorders. H. pylori and its metabolites can enter the CNS via the oropharyngeal olfactory pathway and may predispose to the onset and progression of AD. Periodontitis may cause systemic inflammation of low severity with high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and neutrophils. Moreover, lipopolysaccharide from oral bacteria accompanies beta-amyloid in plaques that form in the brain. Increased intestinal permeability in IBS leads to neuronal inflammation from transference. Chronic inflammation may lead to beta-amyloid plaque formation in the intestinal tract that spreads to the brain via the vagus nerve. The microbiome plays an important role in many bodily functions, such as nutrient absorption and vitamin production, but it is also an important factor in the development of many diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. Both the quantity and diversity of the microbiome change significantly in patients with AD and even in people in the preclinical stage of the disease, when symptoms are not yet present. The microbiome influences the functioning of the central nervous system through, among other things, the microbiota–gut–brain axis. Given the involvement of the microbiome in the pathogenesis of AD, antibiotic therapy, probiotics and prebiotics, and faecal transplantation are being considered as possible therapeutic options. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Gut Microbiome and Metabolism)

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14 pages, 883 KiB

Open AccessReview

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Liver Disease: Across the Gut–Liver Axis from Fibrosis to Cancer

by Vittoria Manilla, Francesco Santopaolo, Antonio Gasbarrini and Francesca Romana Ponziani

Nutrients 2023, 15(11), 2521; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15112521 - 29 May 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4082

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a widespread disease worldwide, and is one of the cornerstones of metabolic syndrome. The existence of a strong relationship between diabetes and the progression of liver fibrosis has been demonstrated by several studies, using invasive and noninvasive techniques. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) show faster progression of fibrosis than patients without diabetes. Many confounding factors make it difficult to determine the exact mechanisms involved. What we know so far is that both liver fibrosis and T2DM are expressions of metabolic dysfunction, and we recognize similar risk factors. Interestingly, both are promoted by metabolic endotoxemia, a low-grade inflammatory condition caused by increased endotoxin levels and linked to intestinal dysbiosis and increased intestinal permeability. There is broad evidence on the role of the gut microbiota in the progression of liver disease, through both metabolic and inflammatory mechanisms. Therefore, dysbiosis that is associated with diabetes can act as a modifier of the natural evolution of NAFLD. In addition to diet, hypoglycemic drugs play an important role in this scenario, and their benefit is also the result of effects exerted in the gut. Here, we provide an overview of the mechanisms that explain why diabetic patients show a more rapid progression of liver disease up to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), focusing especially on those involving the gut–liver axis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Gut Microbiome and Metabolism)

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17 pages, 2430 KiB

Open AccessReview

Crosstalk between Gut Microbiota and Bile Acids in Cholestatic Liver Disease

by Qingmiao Shi, Xin Yuan, Yifan Zeng, Jinzhi Wang, Yaqi Zhang, Chen Xue and Lanjuan Li

Nutrients 2023, 15(10), 2411; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15102411 - 22 May 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3418

Abstract

Emerging evidence suggests the complex interactions between gut microbiota and bile acids, which are crucial end products of cholesterol metabolism. Cholestatic liver disease is characterized by dysfunction of bile production, secretion, and excretion, as well as excessive accumulation of potentially toxic bile acids. Given the importance of bile acid homeostasis, the complex mechanism of the bile acid–microbial network in cholestatic liver disease requires a thorough understanding. It is urgent to summarize the recent research progress in this field. In this review, we highlight how gut microbiota regulates bile acid metabolism, how bile acid pool shapes the bacterial community, and how their interactions contribute to the pathogenesis of cholestatic liver disease. These advances might provide a novel perspective for the development of potential therapeutic strategies that target the bile acid pathway. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Gut Microbiome and Metabolism)

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15 pages, 1022 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Scoping Review of the Relationship between Intermittent Fasting and the Human Gut Microbiota: Current Knowledge and Future Directions

by Alina Delia Popa, Otilia Niță, Andreea Gherasim, Armand Iustinian Enache, Lavinia Caba, Laura Mihalache and Lidia Iuliana Arhire

Nutrients 2023, 15(9), 2095; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15092095 - 26 Apr 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5456

Abstract

Intermittent fasting (IF) has been promoted as an alternative to dietary caloric restriction for the treatment of obesity. IF restricts the amount of food consumed and improves the metabolic balance by synchronizing it with the circadian rhythm. Dietary changes have a rapid effect on the gut microbiota, modulating the interaction between meal timing and host circadian rhythms. Our paper aims to review the relationships between IF and human gut microbiota. In this study, the primary area of focus was the effect of IF on the diversity and composition of gut microbiota and its relationship with weight loss and metabolomic alterations, which are particularly significant for metabolic syndrome characteristics. We discussed each of these findings according to the type of IF involved, i.e., time-restricted feeding, Ramadan fasting, alternate-day fasting, and the 5:2 diet. Favorable metabolic effects regarding the reciprocity between IF and gut microbiota changes have also been highlighted. In conclusion, IF may enhance metabolic health by modifying the gut microbiota. However additional research is required to draw definitive conclusions about this outcome because of the limited number and diverse designs of existing studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Gut Microbiome and Metabolism)

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16 pages, 1265 KiB

Open AccessReview

Physical Exercise and Diet: Regulation of Gut Microbiota to Prevent and Treat Metabolic Disorders to Maintain Health

by Li Zhang, Yuan Liu, Xinzhou Wang and Xin Zhang

Nutrients 2023, 15(6), 1539; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15061539 - 22 Mar 2023

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5040

Abstract

Each person’s body is host to a large number and variety of gut microbiota, which has been described as the second genome and plays an important role in the body’s metabolic process and is closely related to health. It is common knowledge that proper physical activity and the right diet structure can keep us healthy, and in recent years, researchers have found that this boost to health may be related to the gut microbiota. Past studies have reported that physical activity and diet can modulate the compositional structure of the gut microbiota and further influence the production of key metabolites of the gut microbiota, which can be an effective way to improve body metabolism and prevent and treat related metabolic diseases. In this review, we outline the role of physical activity and diet in regulating gut microbiota and the key role that gut microbiota plays in improving metabolic disorders. In addition, we highlight the regulation of gut microbiota through appropriate physical exercise and diet to improve body metabolism and prevent metabolic diseases, aiming to promote public health and provide a new approach to treating such diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Gut Microbiome and Metabolism)

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