-
1.
Evolution of complex, discreet nutrient sensing pathways.
Mehat, K, Corpe, CP
Current opinion in clinical nutrition and metabolic care. 2018;(4):289-293
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The current review summarizes and discusses current research on differences elicited between sugars and nonnutritive sweeteners via sugar-sensing pathways. RECENT FINDINGS Sugars, sweeteners, and sweetening agents are all perceived as sweet tasting because of their ability to bind to the type 1 taste receptor family of sweet taste receptors in the oral cavity. The ability of a wide variety of chemical ligands to activate the sweet taste receptor highlights the importance of sweet-tasting foods during human evolution. The sweet taste receptor has been located in the gut, and differences between oral and gut sugar-sensing pathways are discussed. SUMMARY Differences in the sweetness transduction cascade, and neuronal signalling may result in incretin hormone release upon activation of the sweet taste receptor from some sweeteners, but not others.
-
2.
Postprandial Gastrointestinal Function Differs after Acute Administration of Sourdough Compared with Brewer's Yeast Bakery Products in Healthy Adults.
Polese, B, Nicolai, E, Genovese, D, Verlezza, V, La Sala, CN, Aiello, M, Inglese, M, Incoronato, M, Sarnelli, G, De Rosa, T, et al
The Journal of nutrition. 2018;(2):202-208
-
-
Free full text
-
Abstract
BACKGROUND Europeans consume large quantities of bakery products, although these are known as one of the food categories that potentially leads to postprandial symptoms (such as fullness and bloating). OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of sourdough baked goods on gastric emptying and gastrointestinal fermentation and symptoms in healthy people. METHODS In a double-blind, randomized crossover study, 2 sourdough croissants (SCs) or 2 brewer's yeast croissants (BCs) were served as single meals to 17 healthy adults [9 women; age range: 18-40 y; body mass index range (in kg/m2): 18-24]. Gastric volume (GV) was evaluated by magnetic resonance to calculate gastric-emptying rate in the 3-h interval after croissant ingestion. A hydrogen breath test was performed to measure hydrogen production after SC and BC ingestion. Palatability and postprandial gastrointestinal symptoms (discomfort, nausea, fullness, and bloating) over a 4-h period after the meal were evaluated. The area under the curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the overall effects on all variables tested. RESULTS The total GV AUC was reduced by 11% during the 3 h after the consumption of SCs compared with BCs (P = 0.02). Hydrogen production during the 4-h interval after ingestion of SCs was 30% lower than after BCs (P = 0.03). SCs were rated as being >2 times as palatable as BCs (P < 0.001). The overall severity of postprandial symptoms was 36% lower during the 4 h after intake of SCs compared with BCs (P = 0.05). CONCLUSION Sourdough bakery products could promote better postprandial gastrointestinal function in healthy adults and be more acceptable than those prepared with brewer's yeast. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03207516.
-
3.
A Vegetarian Diet Is a Major Determinant of Gut Microbiota Composition in Early Pregnancy.
Barrett, HL, Gomez-Arango, LF, Wilkinson, SA, McIntyre, HD, Callaway, LK, Morrison, M, Dekker Nitert, M
Nutrients. 2018;(7)
Abstract
The composition of the gut microbiota can be influenced by dietary composition. In pregnancy, the maternal gut microbiome has associations with maternal and infant metabolic status. There is little known regarding the impact of a vegetarian diet in pregnancy on maternal gut microbiota. This study explored the gut microbiota profile in women who were vegetarian or omnivorous in early gestation. Women were selected from participants in the Study of PRobiotics IN Gestational diabetes (SPRING) randomised controlled trial. Nine women identified as vegetarians were matched to omnivorous women in a 1:2 ratio. Microbiota analyses were performed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and analysed using the Quantitative Insights Into Microbial Ecology (QIIME) and Calypso software tools. There was no difference in alpha diversity, but beta diversity was slightly reduced in vegetarians. There were differences seen in the relative abundance of several genera in those on a vegetarian diet, specifically a reduction in Collinsella, Holdemania, and increases in the relative abundances of Roseburia and Lachnospiraceae. In this sub-analysis of gut microbiota from women in early pregnancy, a vegetarian as compared to omnivorous diet, was associated with a different gut microbiome, with features suggesting alterations in fermentation end products from a mixed acid fermentation towards more acetate/butyrate.
-
4.
Effects of Prebiotics vs a Diet Low in FODMAPs in Patients With Functional Gut Disorders.
Huaman, JW, Mego, M, Manichanh, C, Cañellas, N, Cañueto, D, Segurola, H, Jansana, M, Malagelada, C, Accarino, A, Vulevic, J, et al
Gastroenterology. 2018;(4):1004-1007
Abstract
Prebiotics and diets low in fermentable oligo-, di-, mono-saccharides and polyols (low-FODMAP diet) might reduce symptoms in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders, despite reports that some nonabsorbable, fermentable meal products (prebiotics) provide substrates for colonic bacteria and thereby increase gas production. We performed a randomized, parallel, double-blind study of patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders with flatulence. We compared the effects of a prebiotic supplement (2.8 g/d Bimuno containing 1.37 g beta-galactooligosaccharide) plus a placebo (Mediterranean-type diet (prebiotic group, n = 19) vs a placebo supplement (2.8 g xylose) plus a diet low in FODMAP (low-FODMAP group, n = 21) for 4 weeks; patients were then followed for 2 weeks. The primary outcome was effects on composition of the fecal microbiota, analyzed by 16S sequencing. Secondary outcomes were intestinal gas production and digestive sensations. After 4 weeks, we observed opposite effects on microbiota in each group, particularly in relation to the abundance of Bifidobacterium sequences (increase in the prebiotic group and decrease in the low-FODMAP group; P = .042), and Bilophila wadsworthia (decrease in the prebiotic group and increase in the low-FODMAP group; P = .050). After 4 weeks, both groups had statistically significant reductions in all symptom scores, except reductions in flatulence and borborygmi were not significant in the prebiotic group. Although the decrease in symptoms persisted for 2 weeks after patients discontinued prebiotic supplementation, symptoms reappeared immediately after patients discontinued the low-FODMAP diet. Intermittent prebiotic administration might therefore be an alternative to dietary restrictions for patients with functional gut symptoms. ClinicalTrials.gov no.: NCT02210572.
-
5.
A lower dose of fluorescein sodium is more suitable for confocal laser endomicroscopy: a feasibility study.
Zhang, YL, Bai, L, Li, Z, Ji, R, Li, CQ, Zuo, XL, Yin, YF, Du, JX, Zhai, ZZ, Gao, XZ, et al
Gastrointestinal endoscopy. 2016;(6):917-923.e5
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Image quality can be guaranteed with the conventional dosage of fluorescein sodium in probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE). However, yellow discoloration of the skin seriously affects daily life and simultaneously increases the risk of adverse events such as allergic reactions. The aim of this study was to test whether a lower dosage of fluorescein sodium can provide satisfactory image quality and to compare the diagnostic accuracy of gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) through a randomized blind controlled trial. METHODS Consecutive patients were randomly assigned to different doses of fluorescein sodium. Image quality was determined by the endoscopists' subjective assessments and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) assessment systems. Skin discoloration was tested using a neonatal transcutaneous jaundice detector. In addition, consecutive patients with a known or suspected diagnosis of GIM were examined by pCLE with the lower dose and the traditional dose. RESULTS Only 0.01 mL/kg dose of 10% fluorescein sodium led to a significant decrease in image quality (P < .05), and a dose of 0.02 mL/kg had the highest SNR value (P < .05). There were no significant differences in skin discoloration between the 0.01 mL/kg and 0.02 mL/kg doses (P = .148) and no statistical difference in the diagnostic accuracy of pCLE for GIM between the 0.02 mL/kg and 0.10 mL/kg doses (P > .05). The kappa values for the correlation between pCLE and histopathology were 0.867 (95% confidence interval, 0.782-0.952) and 0.891 (95% confidence interval, 0.811-0.971). CONCLUSIONS The 0.02 mL/kg dose of 10% fluorescein sodium seems to be the best dose for pCLE in the upper GI tract, with comparable image quality with the conventional dose and insignificant skin discoloration. This dose is also very efficient for the diagnosis of GIM.
-
6.
In vitro gastrointestinal digestibility of native, hydroxypropylated and cross-linked wheat starches.
Yousefi, AR, Razavi, SM, Norouzy, A
Food & function. 2015;(9):3126-34
Abstract
The digestibility and estimated glycemic indices (GI) of native (NWS), cross-linked (CLWS) and hydroxypropylated wheat starches (HPWS) were obtained by in vitro enzymatic hydrolysis. The resistant starch (RS) content and GI were found to be 6.59 and 93.13 for NWS, 7.57 and 92.20 for CLWS, and 13.15 and 89.04 for HPWS, respectively. The amounts of glucose release for CLWS were approximately 6-11%, and for HPWS were 16-19%, lower than that for NWS after digestion under simulated intestinal conditions (SIC). The linear and two-term exponential models were fitted well to the experimental glucose release data under simulated gastric conditions (SGC) and SIC, respectively (R(2) = 0.858-0.991). After digestion under SIC, the consistency coefficient (k) values drastically decreased (73.02-90.27%), while the flow behavior index (n) increased (155.56-363.64%). Therefore, the amounts of glucose release can be controlled by manipulating the structure of native starches using chemical modifications such as cross-linking and hydroxypropylation.
-
7.
Glucose-fructose likely improves gastrointestinal comfort and endurance running performance relative to glucose-only.
Wilson, PB, Ingraham, SJ
Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports. 2015;(6):e613-20
Abstract
This study aimed to determine whether glucose-fructose (GF) ingestion, relative to glucose-only, would alter performance, metabolism, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, and psychological affect during prolonged running. On two occasions, 20 runners (14 men) completed a 120-min submaximal run followed by a 4-mile time trial (TT). Participants consumed glucose-only (G) or GF (1.2:1 ratio) beverages, which supplied ∼ 1.3 g/min of carbohydrate. Substrate use, blood lactate, psychological affect [Feeling Scale (FS)], and GI distress were measured. Differences between conditions were assessed using magnitude-based inferential statistics. Participants completed the TT 1.9% (-1.9; -4.2, 0.4) faster with GF, representing a likely benefit. FS ratings were possibly higher and GI symptoms were possibly-to-likely lower with GF during the submaximal period and TT. Effect sizes for GI distress and FS ratings were relatively small (Cohen's d = ∼0.2 to 0.4). GF resulted in possibly higher fat oxidation during the submaximal period. No clear differences in lactate were observed. In conclusion, GF ingestion - compared with glucose-only - likely improves TT performance after 2 h of submaximal running, and GI distress and psychological affect are likely mechanisms. These results apply to runners consuming fluid at 500-600 mL/h and carbohydrate at 1.0-1.3 g/min during running at 60-70% VO2peak .
-
8.
Oral and I.V. contrast enhanced ultrasonography of the digestive tract--a useful completion of the B-mode examination: a literature review and an exhaustive illustration through images.
Neciu, C, Badea, R, Chiorean, L, Badea, AF, Opincariu, I
Medical ultrasonography. 2015;(1):62-73
Abstract
Contrast enhanced ultrasonography, using i.v. and/or oral/rectal contrast agents, represents a technical development of the US method, which has proved its applicability in the qualitative and quantitative assessment of the normal and pathological circulatory bed, as well as of the digestive lumen. The use of microbubbles and harmonics opens a new horizon in the detection and characterization of the inflammatory and tumoral conditions of the digestive tract. The interpretation of the data requires corroboration with the grey scale aspect of the examined lesion/area, as well as with the clinical context of the case and the results of other diagnosis techniques. The purpose of this paper is to review the main applications of CEUS in digestive tract pathology by analyzing the significant literature and guidelines in the light of our personal experience and demonstrating it through suggestive images.
-
9.
Methods of analysis of gut microorganism--actual state of knowledge.
Ignyś, I, Szachta, P, Gałęcka, M, Schmidt, M, Pazgrat-Patan, M
Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine : AAEM. 2014;(4):799-803
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Microbiota plays an integral part in maintaining organism homeostasis, through eliminat pathogens, anti-cancer activity, synthesis of digestive enzymes and vitamins, maintaining the continuity of the intestinal epithelium and stimulation of the gastrointestinal immune system, and encourage a quicker and more efficient immune response. Changes in the microbiota composition is often observed in patients with allergy, atopy, irritable bowel syndrome and other diseases, which is the reason for a growing interest in methods of identification of the gut microbial complex. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to compare the state of current knowledge about two methods used in the study of intestinal microorganisms complex: the traditional culture method and genetic analysis. DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE OF KNOWLEDGE Both techniques have advantages and disadvantages. The biggest limitation of the culture method is its inability to detect a significant number of the intestinal microbes. Using the microbiological technique we can only detect identifiable bacteria that can be grown on available substrates. For an accurate quantitative and qualitative investigation of the total microbiota, the more expensive genetic method is required. Due to genetic analysis it is possible to identify the vast number of new microorganisms and identify the dominant bacterial groups in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract. SUMMARY Each of the presented techniques plays specific role in medicine and science. The combination of both methods may become a critical element for understanding the ecosystem of intestinal bacteria.
-
10.
Effects of almond and pistachio consumption on gut microbiota composition in a randomised cross-over human feeding study.
Ukhanova, M, Wang, X, Baer, DJ, Novotny, JA, Fredborg, M, Mai, V
The British journal of nutrition. 2014;(12):2146-52
Abstract
The modification of microbiota composition to a 'beneficial' one is a promising approach for improving intestinal as well as overall health. Natural fibres and phytochemicals that reach the proximal colon, such as those present in various nuts, provide substrates for the maintenance of healthy and diverse microbiota. The effects of increased consumption of specific nuts, which are rich in fibre as well as various phytonutrients, on human gut microbiota composition have not been investigated to date. The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of almond and pistachio consumption on human gut microbiota composition. We characterised microbiota in faecal samples collected from volunteers in two separate randomised, controlled, cross-over feeding studies (n 18 for the almond feeding study and n 16 for the pistachio feeding study) with 0, 1·5 or 3 servings/d of the respective nuts for 18 d. Gut microbiota composition was analysed using a 16S rRNA-based approach for bacteria and an internal transcribed spacer region sequencing approach for fungi. The 16S rRNA sequence analysis of 528 028 sequence reads, retained after removing low-quality and short-length reads, revealed various operational taxonomic units that appeared to be affected by nut consumption. The effect of pistachio consumption on gut microbiota composition was much stronger than that of almond consumption and included an increase in the number of potentially beneficial butyrate-producing bacteria. Although the numbers of bifidobacteria were not affected by the consumption of either nut, pistachio consumption appeared to decrease the number of lactic acid bacteria (P< 0·05). Increasing the consumption of almonds or pistachios appears to be an effective means of modifying gut microbiota composition.