Isolation of Lactobacillus acidophilus strain and its anti-obesity effect in a diet induced obese murine model.

Intestinal microbiota is a potential determinant of obesity, with probiotic bile salt hydrolase (BSH) as one of the key mechanisms in the anti-obesity effects. In this study, we present a Lactobacillus acidophilus GOLDGUT-LA100 (LA100) with high BSH activity, good gastric acid and bile salt tolerance, and a potential anti-obesity effect. LA100's anti-obesity effects were evaluated in a high-fat diet-induced, obese mouse model. LA100 administration alleviates high-fat diet-induced pathophysiological symptoms, such as body weight gain, high serum glucose and cholesterol level, hepatic lipid accumulation, and adipose inflammation. These results demonstrate concrete anti-obesity benefit in animal models and show promising applications in future clinical studies.

Effects of collagen hydrolysates on UV-induced photoaging mice: Gly-Pro-Hyp as a potent anti-photoaging peptide.

This work aimed to investigate the protective effects of collagen hydrolysates containing different contents of Gly-Pro-Xaa tripeptides on UV-induced photoaging mice and to identify potent anti-photoaging peptides. Results showed that oral ingestion of collagen hydrolysates with a higher content of Gly-Pro-Xaa tripeptides (∼11.4%, HCH) dramatically enhanced the absorption of Pro-Hyp, Hyp-Gly, and Gly-Pro-Hyp into the body, which were 1.77-, 2.18-, and 65.07-fold higher in area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) values than that of collagen hydrolysates with a lower content of Gly-Pro-Xaa tripeptides (∼3.8%, LCH), respectively. Furthermore, the protective effects of HCH on the photo-aged skin of mice were significantly stronger than those of LCH in terms of increases in the contents of hyaluronic acid and collagen, improvement in skin elasticity and epidermal thickness, alleviation in inflammation, and decreases in the contents of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and MMP-3. More importantly, Gly-Pro-Hyp displayed potent anti-photoaging activities comparable to HCH based on an equivalent amount of Hyp. Network pharmacology analysis for potential mechanisms further indicated that Gly-Pro-Hyp might interact with JUN and FOS and regulate IL-17 and TNF signaling pathways. Collectively, our results suggested that HCH had great potential to be applied in functional foods for skin health and Gly-Pro-Hyp was found to be a potent collagen-derived anti-photoaging peptide, which might contribute to the excellent anti-photoaging effects of HCH.

A Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis strain that can suppress Helicobacter pylori: isolation, in vitro and in vivo validation.

The administration of probiotics is an effective approach for treatment of Helicobacter pylori, which is associated with human gastrointestinal diseases and cancers. To explore more effective probiotics for H. pylori infection elimination, bacteria from infant feces were screened in this study. We successfully isolated the Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis strains and evaluated its efficacy to inhibit H. pylori growth in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that a B. animalis strain (named BB18) sustained a high survival rate after incubation in gastric juice. The rapid urease test suggested that B. animalis BB18 reduced pathogen loads in H. pylori-infected Mongolian gerbils. Alleviation of H. pylori infection-induced gastric mucosa damage and decreased levels inflammatory cytokines were observed after the B. animalis BB18 administration. These findings demonstrated that B. animalis BB18 can inhibit H. pylori infection both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting its potential application for the prevention and eradication therapy of H. pylori infection.

Effect of a probiotic formula on gastrointestinal health, immune responses and metabolic health in adults with functional constipation or functional diarrhea.

Objective: Our aim was to determine the efficacy of four-week probiotic supplementation on gastrointestinal health. The secondary objectives were to assess probiotic effects on immune reaction, as well as weight control and metabolic health. Methods: We conducted two randomized sub-trials, respectively, among subjects who were diagnosed with functional constipation (FC) or functional diarrhea (FDr) according to the Rome IV criteria. In each sub-trial, 70 eligible Chinese adults were randomized to receive a multi-strain probiotic combination or a placebo. Gastrointestinal symptoms, defecation habits, stool characteristics, blood and fecal biochemistry markers, anthropometrics measures, stress-associated responses, and intestinal flora changes were assessed at baseline and after probiotics intervention. Results: Four weeks of probiotic supplementation reduced overall gastrointestinal symptoms scores in FC participants (p < 0.0001). Their mean weekly stool frequency increased from 3.3 times to 6.2 times; immune response and inflammation markers improved with increases in serum IgA, IFN-γ and fecal sIgA, and decrease in hsCRP; most components of lipid profile were significantly ameliorated, with increases in HDL-C and reductions in TC and TG; body weight, body mass index and basal metabolic rate decreased following probiotics consumption. For FDr participants, probiotics consumption markedly reduced overall gastrointestinal symptom scores (p < 0.0001); decreased stool frequency by 3 times per week; increased IgA, IFN-γ, sIgA concentrations, while lowered hsCRP and IL-4 levels. Both FC and FDr participants had improvement in the scores of defecation habits, anxiety or depression, and perceived stress. Probiotics supplementation promoted the production of all three major short-chain fatty acids. No changes were observed in LDL-C, IgG, IgM, IL-8, IL-10 and motilin. Conclusion: Supplementation with the probiotic formula over a four-week period could help relieving gastrointestinal symptoms, improving satisfaction with defecation habits, emotional state and immune response, and ameliorating dysbacteriosis in participants with FC or FDr. It also had beneficial effects on lipid metabolism and weight control for FC participants.