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Effect of Diet on Gut Microbiota and Host Metabolism

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Special Issue Information
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Published Papers

A special issue of Metabolites (ISSN 2218-1989). This special issue belongs to the section "Cell Metabolism".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 March 2023) | Viewed by 14515

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Syed Azmal Ali

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
Interests: cancer; gut microbiome; microbiota, proteomics; next generation nascent proteomics; transcriptomics; cellular signaling; host metabolism; metabolites; probiotics; apoptosis; autophagy; homeostasis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The gut microbiome, also known as a microbial organ that is molded and organized according to the genotype of the host, responds to lifestyle, dietary elements, and environmental exposure factors. The microbiome is the genetic material of these microorganisms, while the gut microbiota is the community of microorganisms that inhabit the gut environment. It is believed that this microbiota interacts in several ways with the host, since it is the most varied and abundant microbial community. The human microbiota comprises one trillion (10¹⁴) microbial cells. Mutual interactions between the host and the gut microbiota are required for the maintenance of host health. It is important to understand the coordinated interactions between microbial symbionts of host metabolism and physiology that have direct effects on the gut immune system. The symbiotic interaction between gut microbiota and the host is mutually advantageous as microbes help in fat storage control and give nutrients to the host by digesting host food components that may be utilized as an energy source. Intestinal epithelial cells and many mucosal barriers, like the mucus layer that carries antimicrobial compounds, protect epithelial cells from things like gut microbes and the immune system of the host. The host utilizes a range of mechanisms to maintain intestinal homeostasis and prevent aberrant immune responses to the microbiota.

Dietary fiber-rich meals include complex phytochemicals that may be converted by gut microbes into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including acetate, butyrate, and propionate. The intestinal microbiota does not reside inertly in the gut; it provides essential benefits to the host by converting dietary fibers into SCFAs that the host may use as an energy source, generating vitamin B and vitamin K, and metabolizing bile acids. Through the synthesis of various metabolites, including SCFAs and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the gut microbiota controls host immunity, either directly or indirectly. This Special Issue aims to present the most recent findings in this field, and will cover all topics pertaining to the current information on the effects of microbiota-derived functional factors such as diet, microbial products, and metabolites on the regulation of intestinal epithelial cell homeostasis. In addition to focusing on the health-promoting effect of the mutualistic interaction between the gut microbiota and the host's health, this Special Issue will also cover the latest research on microbiota-targeting therapies and other advanced related topics.

Dr. Syed Azmal Ali
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Metabolites is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

gut microbiome
microbiota
dietary fiber
host metabolism
food
Mediterranean diet
metabolites
short-chain fatty acids
intestinal homeostasis
immune response
proteomics
genomics
probiotics
metabolomics
next-generation probiotics

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 928 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of the Extraction Method on the Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Potency of Rosmarinus officinalis L. Extracts

by Nedra Dhouibi, Simona Manuguerra, Rosaria Arena, Concetta Maria Messina, Andrea Santulli, Seifeddine Kacem, Hatem Dhaouadi and Abdelkarim Mahdhi

Metabolites 2023, 13(2), 290; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13020290 - 16 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1965

Abstract

Rosmarinus officinalis L. is a dietary source that produces polyphenols as secondary metabolites. These natural compounds with potent antioxidant abilities are increasingly recommended as a supplement to inhibit oxidative stress. In the current work, we evaluated the impact of the extraction method on the chemical composition of R. officinalis extract, especially on the content of carnosic (CA) and rosmarinic (RA) acids using UPLC-MS-DAD as well as on their antioxidant potency. Four extracts of Tunisian rosemary were obtained from non-conventional extraction techniques:ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE),supercritical extraction (SFE) and UAE and SFE combined ((UAE-SFE(I), UAE-SFE(II)). The UAE exhibited the best total phenolic compounds (i.e., 85.27 mg GAEg⁻¹), the highest content of CAand RA and the strongest antioxidant abilities (i.e., IC₅₀ = 0.13 mg/mL and EC₅₀ = 0.93 mg/mL for DPPH scavenging test and iron reducing power ability assay). The evaluation of antioxidant activity of UAE inhuman skin fibroblast (HS-68) cell line was carried out after the induction of oxidative stress. The results determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay showed a strong protective effect against H₂O₂oxidative stress induction in cells pretreated with UAE. The obtained results allow us to give new insight about the effect of the extraction method on the chemical composition and biological activities of the extract and the importance of the choice of the most appropriate processing technique to prepare rosemary extract with a high antioxidant potency and protective effect against oxidative stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Diet on Gut Microbiota and Host Metabolism)

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28 pages, 1319 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association of Plasma Lipopolysaccharide-Binding Protein Concentration with Dietary Factors, Gut Microbiota, and Health Status in the Japanese General Adult Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Nobuo Fuke, Takahiro Yamashita, Sunao Shimizu, Mai Matsumoto, Kaori Sawada, Songee Jung, Itoyo Tokuda, Mina Misawa, Shigenori Suzuki, Yusuke Ushida, Tatsuya Mikami, Ken Itoh and Hiroyuki Suganuma

Metabolites 2023, 13(2), 250; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13020250 - 9 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2991

Abstract

The influx of intestinal bacteria-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into the blood has attracted attention as a cause of diseases. The aim of this study is investigating the associations between the influx of LPS, dietary factors, gut microbiota, and health status in the general adult population. Food/nutrient intake, gut microbiota, health status and plasma LPS-binding protein (LBP; LPS exposure indicator) were measured in 896 residents (58.1% female, mean age 54.7 years) of the rural Iwaki district of Japan, and each correlation was analyzed. As the results, plasma LBP concentration correlated with physical (right/left arms’ muscle mass [β = −0.02, −0.03]), renal (plasma renin activity [β = 0.27], urine albumin creatinine ratio [β = 0.50]), adrenal cortical (cortisol [β = 0.14]), and thyroid function (free thyroxine [β = 0.05]), iron metabolism (serum iron [β = −0.14]), and markers of lifestyle-related diseases (all Qs < 0.20). Plasma LBP concentration were mainly negatively correlated with vegetables/their nutrients intake (all βs ≤ −0.004, Qs < 0.20). Plasma LBP concentration was positively correlated with the proportion of Prevotella (β = 0.32), Megamonas (β = 0.56), and Streptococcus (β = 0.65); and negatively correlated with Roseburia (β = −0.57) (all Qs < 0.20). Dietary factors correlated with plasma LBP concentration correlated with positively (all βs ≥ 0.07) or negatively (all βs ≤ −0.07) the proportion of these bacteria (all Qs < 0.20). Our results suggested that plasma LBP concentration in the Japanese general adult population was associated with various health issues, and that dietary habit was associated with plasma LBP concentration in relation to the intestinal bacteria. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Diet on Gut Microbiota and Host Metabolism)

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14 pages, 5613 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Apple Polyphenol Extract Suppresses Clostridioides difficile Infection in a Mouse Model

by Zhengjie Wu, Qiaomai Xu, Ailing Li, Longxian Lv and Lanjuan Li

Metabolites 2022, 12(11), 1042; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo12111042 - 30 Oct 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1561

Abstract

Fruits such as apples are a dietary source of polyphenols and have health benefits. We studied the benefits of apple polyphenols in reducing intestinal infections. We explored the potential roles of apple polyphenols in combating Clostridioides difficile-induced intestinal infections by modulating the intestinal microbiota and metabolism in our study. Mice fed with apple polyphenols exhibited higher survival rates and improved diarrhea symptoms in a C. difficile infection mouse model given once-daily apple polyphenol extract (200 or 400 mg/kg bw) or phosphate-buffered saline. Feeding polyphenols enhanced anti-inflammatory effects and colon barrier integrity. In addition, apple polyphenols mitigated intestinal microbiota disorders in C. difficile infection, modulating the intestinal microbiota and increasing the abundance of beneficial microbiota. Apple polyphenols also improved fecal metabolic alterations in C. difficile-infected mice and modulated the expression of pathways related to intestinal inflammation. Our results suggest that apple polyphenol extract is a potential prebiotic agent that affects the intestinal microbiota and metabolism, thereby positively influencing intestinal infections. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Diet on Gut Microbiota and Host Metabolism)

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13 pages, 1760 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Gut Microbiota across Normal Gestation and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Cohort Analysis

by Patricia M. Dualib, Carla R. Taddei, Gabriel Fernandes, Camila R. S. Carvalho, Luiz Gustavo Sparvoli, Isis T. Silva, Rosiane Mattar, Sandra R. G. Ferreira, Sergio A. Dib and Bianca de Almeida-Pititto

Metabolites 2022, 12(9), 796; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo12090796 - 26 Aug 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1943

Abstract

The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a global public health concern. The mechanism that leads to glucose tolerance beyond normal physiological levels to pathogenic conditions remains incompletely understood, and it is speculated that the maternal microbiome may play an important role. This study analyzes the gut microbiota composition in each trimester of weight-matched women with and without GDM and examines possible bacterial genera associations with GDM. This study followed 56 pregnant women with GDM and 59 without admitted to the outpatient clinic during their first/second or third trimester of gestation. They were submitted to a standardized questionnaire, dietary recalls, clinical examination, biological sample collection, and molecular profiling of fecal microbiota. Women with GDM were older and had a higher number of pregnancies than normal-tolerant ones. There was no difference in alpha diversity, and the groups did not differ regarding the overall microbiota structure. A higher abundance of Bacteroides in the GDM group was found. A positive correlation between Christensenellaceae and Intestinobacter abundances with one-hour post-challenge plasma glucose and a negative correlation between Enterococcus and two-hour plasma glucose levels were observed. Bifidobacterium and Peptococcus abundances were increased in the third gestational trimester for both groups. The gut microbiota composition was not dependent on the presence of GDM weight-matched women throughout gestation. However, some genera abundances showed associations with glucose metabolism. Our findings may therefore encourage a deeper understanding of physiological and pathophysiological changes in the microbiota throughout pregnancy, which could have further implications for diseases prevention. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Diet on Gut Microbiota and Host Metabolism)

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Review

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22 pages, 1440 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Interplay between Microbiota and Chemotherapy-Derived Metabolites in Breast Cancer

by Julio Plaza-Diaz and Ana Isabel Álvarez-Mercado

Metabolites 2023, 13(6), 703; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13060703 - 28 May 2023

Viewed by 1779

Abstract

The most common cancer in women is breast cancer, which is also the second leading cause of death in this group. It is, however, important to note that some women will develop or will not develop breast cancer regardless of whether certain known risk factors are present. On the other hand, certain compounds are produced by bacteria in the gut, such as short-chain fatty acids, secondary bile acids, and other metabolites that may be linked to breast cancer development and mediate the chemotherapy response. Modeling the microbiota through dietary intervention and identifying metabolites directly associated with breast cancer and its complications may be useful to identify actionable targets and improve the effect of antiangiogenic therapies. Metabolomics is therefore a complementary approach to metagenomics for this purpose. As a result of the combination of both techniques, a better understanding of molecular biology and oncogenesis can be obtained. This article reviews recent literature about the influence of bacterial metabolites and chemotherapy metabolites in breast cancer patients, as well as the influence of diet. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Diet on Gut Microbiota and Host Metabolism)

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18 pages, 1271 KiB

Open AccessReview

Epigenetic Modifications Induced by the Gut Microbiota May Result from What We Eat: Should We Talk about Precision Diet in Health and Disease?

by Katerina Reva, João Laranjinha and Bárbara S. Rocha

Metabolites 2023, 13(3), 375; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13030375 - 2 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3207

Abstract

Diet is currently considered one of the most important adjustable determinants of human health. The gut microbiota, the collection of microorganisms that inhabit (mainly) the distal bowel, has recently been shown to ensure critical physiological functions, such as immune, metabolic and neuropsychiatric. Many of these biological effects result from the production of bacterial metabolites that may target host cells, tissues and organs. In line with this rationale, epigenetics has brought new insights to our understanding of how environmental factors influence gene expression and, interestingly, gut microbiota metabolites have recently been proposed as novel and significant inducers of epigenetic modifications. Efforts have been dedicated to unveil how the production of specific metabolites influences the activity of epigenetic writers and erasers in order to establish a mechanistic link between gut microbiota, epigenetic modifications and health. Recent data is now evidencing how specific microbial metabolites shape the epigenetic landscape of eukaryotic cells, paving new avenues for innovative therapeutic strategies relying on diet-driven microbiota: epigenetic interactions. Herein is discussed the impact of diet on gut microbiota and the molecular mechanisms underlying microbiota–host interactions, highlighting the influence of diet on microbiota metabolome and how this may induce epigenetic modifications in host cells. Furthermore, it is hypothesized that epigenetics may be a key process transducing the effects of diet on gut microbiota with consequences for health and disease. Accordingly, innovating strategies of disease prevention based on a “precision diet”, a personalized dietary planning according to specific epigenetic targets, are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Diet on Gut Microbiota and Host Metabolism)

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