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New Insights into Diet, Gut Microbiota and Human Health

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2025 | Viewed by 9919

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Internal Medicine, IRCCS “S. Matteo” Hospital Foundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Interests: functional gastrointestinal disorders; malabsorption syndrome; celiac disease; irritable bowel syndrome; osteoporosis
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Mounting evidence supports the role of diet in modulating the composition and metabolic activity of the human gut microbiota, which, in turn, can have a tremendous impact on the overall health of the host. This impact can be beneficial or detrimental, depending on the relative abundance of beneficial and harmful species of constituent microbial populations. Emerging studies demonstrating that diet can modulate host–microbe interactions signal promising future therapeutic approaches. However, understanding the mechanisms of the effects of diet in modulating the gut microbiota is important to define novel therapeutic modalities. Most dietary nutrients are absorbed in the upper small intestine. However, there are an extremely limited number of studies focused on the impact of small intestinal microbiota on host health, a topic which should be addressed in future studies.

The focus of this Special Issue, therefore, is to publish featured articles (review articles, original research articles, communications, and commentaries) aimed at: (1) elucidating the mechanistic details of the diet–microbiota–host cross-talk occurring in different segments of the gut that, ultimately, determine the health and/or disease state of the host, and compiling published studies on this theme; and (2) critically discussing the thoughts, controversies and research gaps in this field that should be addressed in future research.

Dr. Michele Di Stefano
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • gut microbiota
  • probiotics and prebiotics
  • intestinal epithelial cells
  • inflammation
  • infection
  • microbial metabolites
  • nutrient absorption and metabolism
  • epithelial barrier function
  • immunomodulation
  • nutrient sensing and gut hormone secretion

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 3760 KiB  
Article
Impact of Plant-Based School Meals on Gut Bifidobacterium spp. Abundance and Health Outcomes in Schoolchildren from Bahia, Brazil
by Camilla Almeida Menezes, Dalila Lucíola Zanette, Letícia Bastos Magalhães, Renata Maria Rabello da Silva Lago, Alexvon Nunes Gomes, Ronald Alves dos Santos, Ana Marice Teixeira Ledeia, Nelzair Araújo Vianna and Ricardo Riccio Oliveira
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(23), 13073; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252313073 - 5 Dec 2024
Viewed by 453
Abstract
Plant-based diets have been linked to various health benefits, including an improved gut microbiota composition, potentially influencing non-communicable diseases. This study investigates the impact of a school meal intervention on the gut microbiota, specifically the abundance of Bifidobacterium spp. (BIF), in Brazilian schoolchildren. [...] Read more.
Plant-based diets have been linked to various health benefits, including an improved gut microbiota composition, potentially influencing non-communicable diseases. This study investigates the impact of a school meal intervention on the gut microbiota, specifically the abundance of Bifidobacterium spp. (BIF), in Brazilian schoolchildren. A quasi-experimental intervention was conducted in 2019 across four municipalities in the semi-arid region of Bahia, Brazil. The Sustainable School Program aimed to replace animal-based and ultra-processed foods with plant-based options. Clinical, dietary, anthropometric, and laboratory data were collected at the beginning and end of the school year. Fecal samples were analyzed for BIF abundance using RT-PCR. The intervention improved anthropometric and laboratory outcomes, including increased serum hemoglobin levels and reduced LDL-cholesterol. Despite these benefits, no significant change in BIF abundance was observed. However, a negative correlation between BIF abundance and waist-to-height ratio was found. While the intervention positively affected several health parameters, it did not significantly alter BIF abundance. Nevertheless, the abundance of BIF may explain some of these positive outcomes. The findings highlight the potential of plant-based diets to improve overall health, but suggest that further research is needed to understand the role of the gut microbiota in these outcomes. Future studies should explore the influence of factors such as physical activity on the gut microbiota and health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Diet, Gut Microbiota and Human Health)
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16 pages, 1031 KiB  
Article
Changes in the Composition and Diversity of the Intestinal Microbiota Associated with Carbohydrate Consumption in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients
by Beatriz Elina Martínez-Carrillo, Amapola De Sales-Millán, José Félix Aguirre-Garrido, Roxana Valdés-Ramos, Flor de María Cruz-Estrada and José Arturo Castillo-Cardiel
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(22), 12359; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252212359 - 18 Nov 2024
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Abstract
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a multifactorial disease, influenced by dietary and environmental factors that can modify the intestinal microbiota. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the composition and diversity of the intestinal microbiota associated with carbohydrate (CHO) [...] Read more.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a multifactorial disease, influenced by dietary and environmental factors that can modify the intestinal microbiota. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the composition and diversity of the intestinal microbiota associated with carbohydrate (CHO) consumption in T2DM patients. Forty patients participated, with and without T2DM. Fecal samples were collected for the characterization of microbial diversity from the massive sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Carbohydrate consumption was quantified using the Frequency Consumption Foods questionnaire (FCF), the groups were categorized according to Body Mass Index (BMI) and BMI + CHO consumption. The group without T2DM showed normal biochemical and anthropometric parameters, although they had a high carbohydrate consumption compared to the group with T2DM. At the phylum level, there were differences in relative abundance; the control overweight group (CL–OW > CHO) and T2DM-Normal Weight > CHO patients had increased Bacteroides and decreased Firmicutes. In contrast, the CL–OW > CHO and T2DM-OW < CHO patients, showed reduced Bacteroidetes and an elevated amount of Firmicutes. At the genus level, the differences were in the relative abundance of Roseburia, Clostridium_IV, Prevotella, and Sporobacter, associated with the consumption of carbohydrates. The groups that consumed high amounts of carbohydrates, regardless of whether they had diabetes mellitus or were overweight, had a significantly reduced proportion of Faecalibacterium, an altered proportion of Bacteroides. The high consumption of carbohydrates showed considerable modifications in the composition and diversity of the bacterial communities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Diet, Gut Microbiota and Human Health)
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27 pages, 12014 KiB  
Article
Red Cabbage Juice-Mediated Gut Microbiota Modulation Improves Intestinal Epithelial Homeostasis and Ameliorates Colitis
by Emily Jean Wilson, Nagabhishek Sirpu Natesh, Parsa Ghadermazi, Ramesh Pothuraju, Dipakkumar R. Prajapati, Sanjit Pandey, Jussuf T. Kaifi, John R. Dodam, Jeffrey N. Bryan, Christian L. Lorson, Aude A. Watrelot, Jason M. Foster, Thomas J. Mansell, Siu Hung Joshua Chan, Surinder K. Batra, Jeyamkondan Subbiah and Satyanarayana Rachagani
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(1), 539; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25010539 - 30 Dec 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 7073
Abstract
Gut microbiota plays a crucial role in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and can potentially prevent IBD through microbial-derived metabolites, making it a promising therapeutic avenue. Recent evidence suggests that despite an unclear underlying mechanism, red cabbage juice (RCJ) alleviates Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS)-induced [...] Read more.
Gut microbiota plays a crucial role in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and can potentially prevent IBD through microbial-derived metabolites, making it a promising therapeutic avenue. Recent evidence suggests that despite an unclear underlying mechanism, red cabbage juice (RCJ) alleviates Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Thus, the study aims to unravel the molecular mechanism by which RCJ modulates the gut microbiota to alleviate DSS-induced colitis in mice. Using C57BL/6J mice, we evaluated RCJ’s protective role in DSS-induced colitis through two cycles of 3% DSS. Mice were daily gavaged with PBS or RCJ until the endpoint, and gut microbiota composition was analyzed via shotgun metagenomics. RCJ treatment significantly improved body weight (p ≤ 0.001), survival in mice (p < 0.001) and reduced disease activity index (DAI) scores. Further, RCJ improved colonic barrier integrity by enhancing the expression of protective colonic mucins (p < 0.001) and tight junction proteins (p ≤ 0.01) in RCJ + DSS-treated mice compared to the DSS group. Shotgun metagenomic analysis revealed an enrichment of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-producing bacteria (p < 0.05), leading to increased Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma (PPAR-γ) activation (p ≤ 0.001). This, in turn, resulted in repression of the nuclear factor κB (NFκB) signaling pathway, causing decreased production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Our study demonstrates colitis remission in a DSS-induced mouse model, showcasing RCJ as a potential modulator for gut microbiota and metabolites, with promising implications for IBD prevention and treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Diet, Gut Microbiota and Human Health)
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Review

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18 pages, 1496 KiB  
Review
Association of Gut Microbiome and Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 in Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Rapid Literature Review
by Sandra F. Gomes, André Valois, Maria Manuela Estevinho, Mafalda Santiago and Fernando Magro
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(23), 12852; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252312852 - 29 Nov 2024
Viewed by 600
Abstract
Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) are characterized by dysregulated immune responses and chronic tissue inflammation. In the setting of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) and gut microorganisms have been proved to interplay, potentially influenced by dietary factors. This rapid review aimed [...] Read more.
Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) are characterized by dysregulated immune responses and chronic tissue inflammation. In the setting of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) and gut microorganisms have been proved to interplay, potentially influenced by dietary factors. This rapid review aimed to study the DPP4-gut microbiome link in IBD. A search across five databases and two gray literature sources identified seven relevant studies reporting data on DPP4 and gut microbiome in patients with IBD-related IMIDs or in vitro or in vivo models: one cross-sectional, one in vitro, and five in vivo studies. The findings revealed a significant impact of DPP4 and its substrates, i.e., glucagon-like peptide-1/2 (GLP-1/2), on the composition of gut microbiome and on the development of dysbiosis. Increased DPP4 activity is associated with decreased GLP-1/2; increased pathogenic bacterial phyla such as Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Deferribacteres, Firmicutes, Fusobacteriota, Proteobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia; and decreased alpha diversity of beneficial gut microbes, including Clostridiaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Ruminococcaceae families and short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria like Odoribacter and Butryvibrio spp., with exacerbation of intestinal inflammation. This overview revealed that understanding the DPP4-gut microbiome association is critical for the development of DPP4-targeted therapeutic strategies to guarantee gut microbiome balance and modulation of immune response in IBD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Diet, Gut Microbiota and Human Health)
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