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Nutrition and Gut Immunity
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Nutrition and Gut Immunity

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutritional Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2020) | Viewed by 40198

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Laurence Macia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
The Charles Perkins Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Interests: diet; gut microbiota; inflammation; chronic diseases; immunity

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The gastrointestinal tract harbours trillions of bacteria in the lumen, separated from the host by the first line of defence, the gut epithelium, considered as part of the innate immunity. In conjunction with the epithelium, a dense population of immune cells in the lamina propria and gut lymphoid structures prevent the uncontrolled translocation of gut bacteria into the host that could otherwise have dramatic consequences for the host, including death.
Changes in the gut immunity can have both local and systemic impacts on the host. Increased gut permeability has been observed in numerous non-communicable diseases, and the increased differentiation of Th17 in the small intestine has been shown to increase experimental autoimmune encephalitis severity in a multiple sclerosis mouse model.
A better understanding of what affects gut immunity is thus critical to prevent/treat diseases.
Diet is among the major factors that can modulate gut immunity by modulating epithelial permeability, by promoting the differentiation of anti- or pro-inflammatory cells, or by controlling immune cell activities. Diet can mediate these effects either directly or indirectly through the gut microbiota. Beneficial reshaping of the gut microbiota as well as the release of bacterial metabolites such as short chain fatty acids promote epithelial integrity and colonic regulatory T cells development, protecting from food allergy in a mouse model.

The aim of this Issue is to gather reviews and original research articles investigating the impact of diet on gut immunity, including the role of the gut microbiota and the impact on host health.

Dr. Laurence Macia
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2900 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

  • diet
  • macronutrients
  • gut epithelium
  • gut immunity
  • immune cell differentiation and function
  • inflammation
  • immunometabolism
  • gut microbiota
  • microbiota-derived metabolites

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 928 KiB  
Article
Gastrointestinal Tolerance of Low, Medium and High Dose Acute Oral l-Glutamine Supplementation in Healthy Adults: A Pilot Study
by Henry B. Ogden, Robert B. Child, Joanne L. Fallowfield, Simon K. Delves, Caroline S. Westwood, Alison Millyard and Joseph D. Layden
Nutrients 2020, 12(10), 2953; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12102953 - 27 Sep 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5553
Abstract
l-Glutamine (GLN) is a conditionally essential amino acid which supports gastrointestinal (GI) and immune function prior to catabolic stress (e.g., strenuous exercise). Despite potential dose-dependent benefits, GI tolerance of acute high dose oral GLN supplementation is poorly characterised. Fourteen healthy males (25 [...] Read more.
l-Glutamine (GLN) is a conditionally essential amino acid which supports gastrointestinal (GI) and immune function prior to catabolic stress (e.g., strenuous exercise). Despite potential dose-dependent benefits, GI tolerance of acute high dose oral GLN supplementation is poorly characterised. Fourteen healthy males (25 ± 5 years; 1.79 ± 0.07 cm; 77.7 ± 9.8 kg; 14.8 ± 4.6% body fat) ingested 0.3 (LOW), 0.6 (MED) or 0.9 (HIGH) g·kg·FFM−1 GLN beverages, in a randomised, double-blind, counter-balanced, cross-over trial. Individual and accumulated GI symptoms were recorded using a visual analogue scale at regular intervals up to 24-h post ingestion. GLN beverages were characterised by tonicity measurement and microscopic observations. 24-h accumulated upper- and lower- and total-GI symptoms were all greater in the HIGH, compared to LOW and MED trials (p < 0.05). Specific GI symptoms (discomfort, nausea, belching, upper GI pain) were all more pronounced on the HIGH versus LOW GLN trial (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, most symptoms were still rated as mild. In comparison, the remaining GI symptoms were either comparable (flatulence, urge to regurgitate, bloating, lower GI pain) or absent (heart burn, vomiting, urge to defecate, abnormal stools, stitch, dizziness) between trials (p > 0.05). All beverages were isotonic and contained a dose-dependent number of GLN crystals. Acute oral GLN ingestion in dosages up to 0.9 g·kg·FFM−1 are generally well-tolerated. However, the severity of mild GI symptoms appeared dose-dependent during the first two hours post prandial and may be due to high-concentrations of GLN crystals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition and Gut Immunity)
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Review

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35 pages, 1929 KiB  
Review
How Changes in the Nutritional Landscape Shape Gut Immunometabolism
by Jian Tan, Duan Ni, Rosilene V. Ribeiro, Gabriela V. Pinget and Laurence Macia
Nutrients 2021, 13(3), 823; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13030823 - 2 Mar 2021
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 7079
Abstract
Cell survival, proliferation and function are energy-demanding processes, fuelled by different metabolic pathways. Immune cells like any other cells will adapt their energy production to their function with specific metabolic pathways characteristic of resting, inflammatory or anti-inflammatory cells. This concept of immunometabolism is [...] Read more.
Cell survival, proliferation and function are energy-demanding processes, fuelled by different metabolic pathways. Immune cells like any other cells will adapt their energy production to their function with specific metabolic pathways characteristic of resting, inflammatory or anti-inflammatory cells. This concept of immunometabolism is revolutionising the field of immunology, opening the gates for novel therapeutic approaches aimed at altering immune responses through immune metabolic manipulations. The first part of this review will give an extensive overview on the metabolic pathways used by immune cells. Diet is a major source of energy, providing substrates to fuel these different metabolic pathways. Protein, lipid and carbohydrate composition as well as food additives can thus shape the immune response particularly in the gut, the first immune point of contact with food antigens and gastrointestinal tract pathogens. How diet composition might affect gut immunometabolism and its impact on diseases will also be discussed. Finally, the food ingested by the host is also a source of energy for the micro-organisms inhabiting the gut lumen particularly in the colon. The by-products released through the processing of specific nutrients by gut bacteria also influence immune cell activity and differentiation. How bacterial metabolites influence gut immunometabolism will be covered in the third part of this review. This notion of immunometabolism and immune function is recent and a deeper understanding of how lifestyle might influence gut immunometabolism is key to prevent or treat diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition and Gut Immunity)
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26 pages, 1113 KiB  
Review
The Role of Diet in the Pathogenesis and Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Review
by Gabrielle Wark, Dorit Samocha-Bonet, Simon Ghaly and Mark Danta
Nutrients 2021, 13(1), 135; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13010135 - 31 Dec 2020
Cited by 83 | Viewed by 14683
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel diseases, which include ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, are chronic relapsing and remitting inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that are increasing in prevalence and incidence globally. They are associated with significant morbidity, reduced quality of life to individual sufferers and [...] Read more.
Inflammatory bowel diseases, which include ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, are chronic relapsing and remitting inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that are increasing in prevalence and incidence globally. They are associated with significant morbidity, reduced quality of life to individual sufferers and are an increasing burden on society through direct and indirect costs. Current treatment strategies rely on immunosuppression, which, while effective, is associated with adverse events. Epidemiological evidence suggests that diet impacts the risk of developing IBD and modulates disease activity. Using diet as a therapeutic option is attractive to patients and clinicians alike due to its availability, low cost and few side effects. Diet may influence IBD risk and disease behaviour through several mechanisms. Firstly, some components of the diet influence microbiota structure and function with downstream effects on immune activity. Secondly, dietary components act to alter the structure and permeability of the mucosal barrier, and lastly dietary elements may have direct interactions with components of the immune response. This review will summarise the mechanisms of diet–microbial–immune system interaction, outline key studies examining associations between diet and IBD and evidence demonstrating the impact of diet on disease control. Finally, this review will outline current prescribed dietary therapies for active CD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition and Gut Immunity)
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22 pages, 2404 KiB  
Review
Low FODMAP Diet for Functional Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Quiescent Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
by Maria G. Grammatikopoulou, Dimitrios G. Goulis, Konstantinos Gkiouras, Meletios P. Nigdelis, Stefanos T. Papageorgiou, Theodora Papamitsou, Alastair Forbes and Dimitrios P. Bogdanos
Nutrients 2020, 12(12), 3648; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12123648 - 27 Nov 2020
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 8724
Abstract
A low FODMAP diet (LFD) has been hypothesized to relieve symptoms of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGD) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of the study was to systematically review the literature for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effectiveness of [...] Read more.
A low FODMAP diet (LFD) has been hypothesized to relieve symptoms of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGD) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of the study was to systematically review the literature for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effectiveness of the LFD in patients with IBD and FGD. Four databases were searched, but a meta-analysis was not performed due to methodological and outcomes heterogeneity. Four RCTs fulfilled the criteria, with three having some concerns in their risk of bias assessment. All interventions compared the LFDs against a “typical” or sham diet, spanning in duration from 21 days to 6 weeks. Quality of life was improved in two RCTs, while revealing inconsistent findings in the third trial, based on different assessment tools. The fecal assays revealed non-significant findings for most variables (fecal weight, pH, water content, gene count, and gut transit time) and inconsistent findings concerning stool frequency and short-chain fatty acids concentration. Levels of fecal calprotectin, CRP, or T-cell phenotype did not differ between intervention and comparator arms. Two RCTs reported a reduction in abdominal pain, while results concerning pain duration and bloating were inconsistent. In one trial, energy intake was considerably reduced among LFD participants. Regarding gut microbiota, no differences were noted. A considerable degree of methodological and outcome heterogeneity was observed, paired with results inconsistency. The available data are not sufficient to justify the claim that an LFD induces relief of FGD symptoms, although it may pave the way to a placebo response. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition and Gut Immunity)
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