Insights & Discussion
Consuming two SunGold kiwifruits daily over 12 weeks improved vitamin C status, reduced blood pressure, waist measurements and altered faecal microbiota composition in prediabetic individuals.
Over a 12 week pilot intervention trial, people with prediabetes were observed after consuming two SunGold kiwifruits per day. Participants filled out a physical activity questionnaire and a three-day estimated food diary at both the commencement and end of the trial. Venous blood samples were collected at the start, in between (at 6 weeks) and at the end of the trial, to observe glycaemic indices, plasma vitamin C concentrations, hormones, lipid profiles and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels. Additionally, participants provided faecal samples at each visit for DNA extraction and subsequent amplification and sequencing of a region of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene to determine faecal microbiota composition.
The differences were then compared between week 12 and their baseline measurements revealing a significant increase in plasma vitamin C concentration. Further changes including significant reductions in both diastolic and systolic blood pressure as well as waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio were recorded. Despite recording a slight drop in HbA1c levels and a minor increase in fasting glucose, the changes were small and not clinically significant. Moreover, the composition analysis of the faecal microbiota indicated an increase in the relative abundance of hitherto uncultivated, hence uncharacterised members of a particular bacterial family. These findings suggest that these unknown bacterial members could potentially have a functional relationship with the polysaccharides and polyphenols in kiwifruits.
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Kiwifruit polysaccharides may alleviate the toxic effects of acrylamide by improving gut health and enhancing bile acid metabolism.
2023 Frontiers in Nutrition Effects of kiwi fruit (Actinidia chinensis) polysaccharides on metabolites and gut microbiota of acrylamide-induced mice Chen M, Chen X, Wang K, Cai L, Liu N, Zhou D, et al.
Animal Study Bile Acid Gut Microbiota Kiwifruit
In this study, the team explored the potential protective effects of kiwifruit polysaccharides on disorders induced by acrylamide (a toxic ingredient found in high-temperature, carbohydrate-rich food) on gut microbiota and systemic metabolism. They measured changes in gut microbiota and serum metabolites in mice subjected to acrylamide-induced toxicity, focusing primarily on the effects on mice's bodily features, liver health, and liver enzyme activity.
The results revealed that treatment with kiwifruit polysaccharides not only improved the mice's overall health and liver function but also restored the balance in their gut microbiota by increasing microbial diversity and the abundance of beneficial bacteria. Furthermore, it was found that the polysaccharides had a significant impact on amino and bile acid-related metabolic pathways, proving their potential in protecting against toxicity. A strong correlation was also found between certain bacteria and the critical metabolites of bile acid metabolism, providing a deeper understanding of the protective mechanisms of kiwifruit polysaccharides.
Cooked adzuki beans contribute notably to preventing obesity and regulating gut microbiota composition, while also alleviating systemic inflammation and metabolic disorders.
2022 Frontiers in Nutrition Cooked Adzuki Bean Reduces High-Fat Diet-Induced Body Weight Gain, Ameliorates Inflammation, and Modulates Intestinal Homeostasis in Mice Zhao Q, Liu Z, Zhu Y, Wang H, Dai Z, Yang X, et al.
Animal Study Adzuki Bean Anti-Inflammatory Fatty Liver Disease
The methodology involved a controlled experiment where mice were fed diets of varying lipid content: a low-fat diet or a high-fat diet. The specific twist in this experiment was the inclusion or exclusion of cooked adzuki beans to their diet, ensuring 15% of the diet comprised of this. The duration of this dietary regimen was 12 weeks.
In the discussion of results, it was discovered that cooked adzuki beans provided key beneficial effects. This included a significant inhibition of weight gain and hepatic steatosis, a reduction in high levels of specific markers such as serum triacylglycerol, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase, providing a counter to systemic inflammation and metabolism-related endotoxemia commonly found in those consuming a high-fat diet. Moreover, the inclusion of adzuki beans positively affected the gut microbiota composition, reducing fat-inducing bacteria and enriching the gut with beneficial bacteria to help alleviate inflammation and metabolic disorders associated with high-fat diets.
Pomegranate extract and its phytochemicals can potentially inhibit severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) and improve gut microbiota, preventing obesity and diabetes.
2022 Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy Medicinal uses, pharmacological activities, phytochemistry, and the molecular mechanisms of Punica granatum L. (pomegranate) plant extracts: A review Maphetu N, Unuofin JO, Masuku NP, Olisah C, Lebelo SL
Review Article COVID-19 Gut Microbiota Obesity
The study employs the use of in silico molecular docking methodologies to demonstrate that extract from pomegranates and their phytochemicals can serve as inhibitors of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2's spike protein and the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor contact. These findings are further reinforced by clinical trials which suggest that pomegranates can also alleviate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome, dental infections, and symptoms of menopause.
This study has also identified numerous active compounds within pomegranates such as alkaloids, anthocyanidins, tannins, flavonoids, phenolics, proanthocyanidins, sterols, terpenes, terpenoids, xanthonoids, fatty acids, organic acids, lignans, saccharides, and vitamin C. This mixture of active compounds is believed to significantly contribute to the broad array of pharmacological activities identified within the pomegranate. This includes anti-diabetic, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-malaria, anti-fibrotic, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial effects. The extract from this fruit improves gut microbiota which could potentially aid in the prevention of obesity and diabetes.
Pu-erh tea, through the increase of Cinnabarinic acid, can improve obesity induced by circadian rhythm disorders by enhancing fat metabolism and altering gut microbes.
2022 Food Chemistry Pu-erh tea increases the metabolite Cinnabarinic acid to improve circadian rhythm disorder-induced obesity Hu S, Hu C, Luo L, Zhang H, Zhao S, Liu Z, et al.
Experimental Study Cinnabarinic Acid Circadian Rhythm Gut Microbiota
In this study, a CRD-induced obesity model in mice was developed and Pu-erh tea was used as an intervention. The effect of Pu-erh tea on obesity was observed and determined to come from its production of Cinnabarinic acid (CA). CA was found to promote adipose tissue lipolysis and heat generation response, increasing the sensitivity of fat cells to hormones and neurotransmitters. This was accomplished by targeting the expression of specific receptor proteins in adipose tissue. These processes improved mitochondrial activity in the fat cells and expedited metabolic processes in the adipose tissue, thereby speeding up glucose and fat metabolism.
In the final stage of the study, CA was found to make changes in the gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids which further helped to improve the lipid accumulation mediated by CRD. The researchers concluded that the increase in CA, caused by drinking Pu-erh tea and reaching the fat tissue through blood circulation, could be a crucial mechanism to reduce obesity induced by circadian rhythm disorders.
Pu-erh tea and its ingredient theabrownin improve liver, jejunum, and adipose tissue functions in metabolic syndrome mice, modulating circadian rhythm, glycerophospholipid, and linoleic acid metabolism.
2022 Food Research International Pu-erh tea and theabrownin ameliorate metabolic syndrome in mice via potential microbiota-gut-liver-brain interactions Hou Y, Zhang Z, Cui Y, Peng C, Fan Y, Tan C, et al.
Animal Study Circadian Rhythm Gut Microbiota Metabolic Syndrome
In this study, varied technological applications such as metagenomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics were utilized to explore the anti-metabolic syndrome mechanism of Pu-erh tea and theabrownin in mice with metabolic syndrome. These scientific technologies allowed the researchers to understand and explore improvements in the physiological functions of liver, jejunum, and adipose tissues in the metabolic syndrome mice as a result of Pu-erh tea and theabrownin interventions. The investigation also focused on changes to the hepatic transcriptome, revealing that both of these interventions had the capacity to regulate the circadian rhythm pathway.
The results showcased that both interventions succeeded in the modulation of glycerophospholipid and linoleic acid metabolism, this was established through a comprehensive analysis of serum and brain metabolome. Further analysis of faecal metagenome demonstrated an increase in the relative abundance of certain bacterium and a decrease in others due to both interventions. However, in comparison to Pu-erh tea, theabrownin exhibited a more pronounced influence as regards upregulating hepatic antioxidants and downregulating hepatic inflammatory factors, although there was only a slight reduction in obesity-linked short-chain fatty acids in faeces of the metabolic syndrome mice. Overall, the experiment provided essential insights into the various ways these two elements function and provide treatment for metabolic syndrome.
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