1.
Role of whole grains versus fruits and vegetables in reducing subclinical inflammation and promoting gastrointestinal health in individuals affected by overweight and obesity: a randomized controlled trial.
Kopf, JC, Suhr, MJ, Clarke, J, Eyun, SI, Riethoven, JM, Ramer-Tait, AE, Rose, DJ
Nutrition journal. 2018;17(1):72
-
-
-
Free full text
Plain language summary
Poor diet is the leading risk factor for premature death and disability in the United States. Poor diets lead to metabolic syndrome and its associated diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of increasing intake of wholegrains or fruit and vegetables against a typical Western diet on inflammatory makers and gut microbiota composition. The study was a randomized, parallel arm feeding trial which enrolled fifty-two participants. The subjects were randomized into three groups (control, wholegrains, and fruit and vegetables). Results indicate that the wholegrain and fruit and vegetable diets had significant positive impacts on inflammatory markers. Interestingly, while both treatment groups decreased inflammatory markers, each decreased a different biomarker. The treatments induced individualised changes in microbiota composition such that treatment group differences were not identified. Authors conclude that wholegrain and fruit and vegetable diets have a positive impact on metabolic health in individuals affected by overweight or obesity.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Whole grains (WG) and fruits and vegetables (FV) have been shown to reduce the risk of metabolic disease, possibly via modulation of the gut microbiota. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of increasing intake of either WG or FV on inflammatory markers and gut microbiota composition. METHODS A randomized parallel arm feeding trial was completed on forty-nine subjects with overweight or obesity and low intakes of FV and WG. Individuals were randomized into three groups (3 servings/d provided): WG, FV, and a control (refined grains). Stool and blood samples were collected at the beginning of the study and after 6 weeks. Inflammatory markers [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP), and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)] were measured. Stool sample analysis included short/branched chain fatty acids (S/BCFA) and microbiota composition. RESULTS There was a significant decrease in LBP for participants on the WG (- 0.2 μg/mL, p = 0.02) and FV (- 0.2 μg/mL, p = 0.005) diets, with no change in those on the control diet (0.1 μg/mL, p = 0.08). The FV diet induced a significant change in IL-6 (- 1.5 pg/mL, p = 0.006), but no significant change was observed for the other treatments (control, - 0.009 pg/mL, p = 0.99; WG, - 0.29, p = 0.68). The WG diet resulted in a significant decrease in TNF-α (- 3.7 pg/mL; p < 0.001), whereas no significant effects were found for those on the other diets (control, - 0.6 pg/mL, p = 0.6; FV, - 1.4 pg/mL, p = 0.2). The treatments induced individualized changes in microbiota composition such that treatment group differences were not identified, except for a significant increase in α-diversity in the FV group. The proportions of Clostridiales (Firmicutes phylum) at baseline were correlated with the magnitude of change in LBP during the study. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate that WG and FV intake can have positive effects on metabolic health; however, different markers of inflammation were reduced on each diet suggesting that the anti-inflammatory effects were facilitated via different mechanisms. The anti-inflammatory effects were not related to changes in gut microbiota composition during the intervention, but were correlated with microbiota composition at baseline. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT02602496 , Nov 4, 2017.
2.
Synbiotic therapy decreases microbial translocation and inflammation and improves immunological status in HIV-infected patients: a double-blind randomized controlled pilot trial.
González-Hernández, LA, Jave-Suarez, LF, Fafutis-Morris, M, Montes-Salcedo, KE, Valle-Gutierrez, LG, Campos-Loza, AE, Enciso-Gómez, LF, Andrade-Villanueva, JF
Nutrition journal. 2012;11:90
-
-
-
Free full text
Plain language summary
HIV causes gastrointestinal dysfunction and microbial translocation that can provoke local and systemic inflammation that may lead to disease progression. Inflammation and intestinal permeability increase and the reduction in immune defences creates the opportunity for microbial overgrowth and raised lipopolysaccharides levels, which may lead to disease progression. HIV-infected patients also tend to have low levels of beneficial bacteria. Probiotics have the potential to stimulate the immune system through IgA secretion and reduce inflammation. Prebiotics selectively stimulate the growth of some bacteria, altering the composition and metabolic activity of gut microbiota. This randomized, prospective, double-blind controlled pilot study evaluates use of probiotics and prebiotic to expand beneficial microbiota that help decrease bacterial translocation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production, thereby improving immune functions in HIV-infected subjects. 20 HIV-infected adult patients were divided into four groups (n=5 per group) to receive probiotics, synbiotic, a prebiotic, or placebo once daily for 16 weeks. Probiotics used were Lactobacillus rhamnosus plus Bifidobacterium lactis. From baseline to week 16, the synbiotic group showed a reduction in bacterial DNA concentrations in plasma. The probiotic and synbiotic groups demonstrated a decrease in total bacterial load in feces. The probiotic group showed a significant increase in beneficial bacteria load (such as Bifidobacterium and a decrease in harmful bacteria load (such as Clostridium). The synbiotic group had greater increases in CD4+ T-cell count and cytokine levels (IL-6) decreased significantly. Serious adverse effects previously reported with the use of probiotics in immunocompromised patients were not reported in this study. The authors found no decrease in HIV-1 plasma viral load so the use of a synbiotic for maintaining an undetectable viral load as part of the primary prevention of HIV transmission is not justified.
Abstract
BACKGROUND HIV-infection results in damage and dysfunction of the gastrointestinal system. HIV enteropathy includes pronounced CD4+ T-cell loss, increased intestinal permeability, and microbial translocation that promotes systemic immune activation, which is implicated in disease progression. A synbiotic is the combination of probiotics and prebiotics that could improve gut barrier function. Our study goal was to determine whether the use of a synbiotic, probiotics or a prebiotic can recover immunological parameters in HIV-infected subjects through of a reduction of microbial translocation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production. METHODS A randomized, double-blind controlled study was performed; twenty Antiretroviral treatment-naïve HIV-infected subjects were subgrouped and assigned to receive a synbiotic, probiotics, a prebiotic, or a placebo throughout 16 weeks. RESULTS We had no reports of serious adverse-events. From baseline to week 16, the synbiotic group showed a reduction in bacterial DNA concentrations in plasma (p = 0.048). Moreover, the probiotic and synbiotic groups demonstrated a decrease in total bacterial load in feces (p = 0.05). The probiotic group exhibited a significant increment of beneficial bacteria load (such as Bifidobacterium; p = 0.05) and a decrease in harmful bacteria load (such as Clostridium; p = 0.063). In the synbiotic group, the CD4+ T-cells count increased (median: +102 cells/μL; p = 0.05) and the level of Interleukin 6 cytokine decreased significantly (p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS Our study showed a significant increase in CD4+ T lymphocyte levels in the synbiotic group, which could delay the initiation of antiretroviral therapy and decrease costs in countries with limited resources.