Sugars measured enzymatically in a fasting overnight urine sample are not sensitive biomarkers of dietary added sugar intake in postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: Restricting dietary sugar is a leading recommendation, but limited biomarkers assessing intake exist. Although 24-h urinary sucrose (U-Suc) and urinary fructose (U-Fruc) excretion has been used with mixed success, collection is burdensome. AIM: This study aimed to test the sensitivity of an enzymatic assay of U-Suc and U-Fruc to detect changing added sugar intake using low-burden overnight urine samples in 30 postmenopausal women. METHODS: Women consumed usual dietary intake during day 1 and usual intake plus a sugar sweetened beverage during day 2. Weighed, photographed food records assessed intake. Enzymatic assay measured U-Suc and U-Fruc from fasting overnight samples; liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) validated U-Suc findings. RESULTS: Dietary added sugars increased significantly during day 2 (p < 0.001), but urinary sugars were not significantly increased. Enzymatic assay detected urinary sugars in 75% (U-Suc) and 35% (U-Fruc) of samples. Dietary sucrose was not associated with U-Suc, however dietary fructose was significantly associated with U-Fruc [ß = 0.031; p < 0.05] among women with detectable urinary sugars. Participants with detectable U-Fruc consumed more energy from added sugars [12.6% kcal day 1; 21.5% kcal day 2] than participants with undetectable U-Fruc [9.3% kcal day 1; 17.4% kcal day 2], p < 0.05. Using LC-MS, U-Suc predicted sucrose and added sugar intake [ß = 0.017, ß = 0.013 respectively; both p < 0.05]. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary sugars measured enzymatically from overnight urine samples were not sensitive biomarkers of changing added sugar intake in postmenopausal women. However, urinary fructose measured by enzymatic assay or LC-MS may differentiate low versus high added sugar consumers.

A green tea extract confection decreases circulating endotoxin and fasting glucose by improving gut barrier function but without affecting systemic inflammation: A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial in healthy adults and adults with metabolic syndrome.

Anti-inflammatory activities of catechin-rich green tea extract (GTE) in obese rodents protect against metabolic endotoxemia by decreasing intestinal permeability and absorption of gut-derived endotoxin. However, translation to human health has not been established. We hypothesized that GTE would reduce endotoxemia by decreasing gut permeability and intestinal and systemic inflammation in persons with metabolic syndrome (MetS) compared with healthy persons. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial in healthy adults (n = 19, 34 ± 2 years) and adults with MetS (n = 21, 40 ± 3 years) examined 4-week administration of a decaffeinated GTE confection (890 mg/d total catechins) on serum endotoxin, intestinal permeability, gut and systemic inflammation, and cardiometabolic parameters. Compared with the placebo, the GTE confection decreased serum endotoxin (P = .023) in both healthy persons and those with MetS, while increasing concentrations of circulating catechins (P < .0001) and γ-valerolactones (P = .0001). Fecal calprotectin (P = .029) and myeloperoxidase (P = .048) concentrations were decreased by GTE regardless of health status. Following the ingestion of gut permeability probes, urinary lactose/mannitol (P = .043) but not sucralose/erythritol (P > .05) was decreased by GTE regardless of health status. No between-treatment differences (P > .05) were observed for plasma aminotransferases, blood pressure, plasma lipids, or body mass nor were plasma tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, or the ratio of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein/soluble cluster of differentiation-14 affected. However, fasting glucose in both study groups was decreased (P = .029) by the GTE confection compared with within-treatment arm baseline concentrations. These findings demonstrate that catechin-rich GTE is effective to decrease circulating endotoxin and improve glycemic control in healthy adults and those with MetS, likely by reducing gut inflammation and small intestinal permeability but without affecting systemic inflammation.

Gallation and B-Ring Dihydroxylation Increase Green Tea Catechin Residence Time in Plasma by Differentially Affecting Tissue-Specific Trafficking: Compartmental Model of Catechin Kinetics in Healthy Adults.

Catechins in green tea extract (GTE) (epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin (EC), epicatechin gallate (ECG)) vary in bioactivity. We developed a physiologically relevant mathematical model of catechin metabolism to test the hypothesis that fractional catabolic rates of catechins would be differentially affected by their structural attributes. Pharmacokinetic data of plasma and urine catechin concentrations were used from healthy adults (n = 19) who ingested confections containing 0.5 g GTE (290 mg EGCG, 87 mg EGC, 39 mg EC, 28 mg ECG). A 7-compartmental model of catechin metabolism comprised of the gastrointestinal tract (stomach, small and large intestine), liver, plasma, extravascular tissues, and kidneys was developed using a mean fraction dose of EGCG, ECG, EGC, and EC. Fitting was by iterative least squares regression analysis, and goodness of fit was ascertained by the estimated variability of parameters (FSD < 0.5). The interaction of gallation and B-ring dihydroxylation most greatly extended plasma residence time such that EGC > EC = EGCG > EGC. The interaction between gallation and B-ring dihydroxylation accelerated the transfer from the upper gastrointestinal tract to the small intestine but delayed subsequent transfers from the small intestine through the liver to plasma and from kidneys to urine. Gallation and B-ring dihydroxylation independently delayed the transfer from plasma to extravascular tissues, except the uptake to kidneys, which was slowed by gallation only. This multi-compartment model, to be validated in a future study, suggests that gallation and B-ring dihydroxylation affect catechin catabolism in a tissue-specific manner and thus their potential bioactivity.

Catechin Bioavailability Following Consumption of a Green Tea Extract Confection Is Reduced in Obese Persons without Affecting Gut Microbial-Derived Valerolactones.

Obesity-related cardiometabolic disorders are driven by inflammation, oxidative stress, and gut dysbiosis. Green tea catechins protect against cardiometabolic disorders by anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and prebiotic activities. However, whether obesity alters catechin bioavailability remains unknown. We hypothesized that obesity would decrease catechin bioavailability due to altered gut microbiota composition. Obese and healthy persons completed a pharmacokinetics trial in which a confection formulated with green tea extract (GTE; 58% epigallocatechin gallate, 17% epigallocatechin, 8% epicatechin, 6% epicatechin gallate) was ingested before collecting plasma and urine at timed intervals for up to 24 h. Stool samples were collected prior to confection ingestion. Catechins and γ-valerolactones were assessed by LC-MS. Obesity reduced plasma area under the curve (AUC0-12h) by 24-27% and maximum plasma concentrations by 18-36% for all catechins. Plasma AUC0-12h for 5'-(3',4'-dihydroxyphenyl)-γ-valerolactone and 5'-(3',4',5'-trihydroxyphenyl)-γ-valerolactone, as well as total urinary elimination of all catechins and valerolactones, were unaffected. ⍺-Diversity in obese persons was lower, while Slackia was the only catechin-metabolizing bacteria that was altered by obesity. Ascorbic acid and diversity metrics were correlated with catechin/valerolactone bioavailability. These findings indicate that obesity reduces catechin bioavailability without affecting valerolactone generation, urinary catechin elimination, or substantially altered gut microbiota populations, suggesting a gut-level mechanism that limits catechin absorption.

Daily Inclusion of Resistant Starch-Containing Potatoes in a Dietary Guidelines for Americans Dietary Pattern Does Not Adversely Affect Cardiometabolic Risk or Intestinal Permeability in Adults with Metabolic Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Poor diet quality influences cardiometabolic risk. Although potatoes are suggested to adversely affect cardiometabolic health, controlled trials that can establish causality are limited. Consistent with potatoes being rich in micronutrients and resistant starch, we hypothesized that their inclusion in a Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA)-based dietary pattern would improve cardiometabolic and gut health in metabolic syndrome (MetS) persons. In a randomized cross-over trial, MetS persons (n = 27; 32.5 ± 1.3 year) consumed a DGA-based diet for 2 weeks containing potatoes (DGA + POTATO; 17.5 g/day resistant starch) or bagels (DGA + BAGEL; 0 g/day resistant starch) prior to completing oral glucose and gut permeability tests. Blood pressure, fasting glucose and insulin, and insulin resistance decreased (p < 0.05) from baseline regardless of treatment without any change in body mass. Oral glucose-induced changes in brachial artery flow-mediated dilation, nitric oxide homeostasis, and lipid peroxidation did not differ between treatment arms. Serum endotoxin AUC0−120 min and urinary lactulose/mannitol, but not urinary sucralose/erythritol, were lower in DGA + POTATO. Fecal microbiome showed limited between-treatment differences, but the proportion of acetate was higher in DGA + POTATO. Thus, short-term consumption of a DGA-based diet decreases cardiometabolic risk, and the incorporation of resistant starch-containing potatoes into a healthy diet reduces small intestinal permeability and postprandial endotoxemia.

Catechin-Rich Green Tea Extract and the Loss-of-TLR4 Signaling Differentially Alter the Hepatic Metabolome in Mice with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis.

SCOPE: Catechin-rich green tea extract (GTE) limits inflammation in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) consistent with a Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-dependent mechanism. It is hypothesized that GTE supplementation during NASH will shift the hepatic metabolome similar to that attributed to the loss-of-TLR4 signaling. METHODS AND RESULTS: Wild-type (WT) and loss-of-function TLR4-mutant (TLR4mut ) mice are fed a high-fat diet containing 0% or 2% GTE for 8 weeks prior to performing untargeted mass spectrometry-based metabolomics on liver tissue. The loss-of-TLR4 signaling and GTE shift the hepatic metabolome away from that of WT mice. However, relatively few metabolites are altered by GTE in WT mice to the same extent as the loss-of-TLR4 signaling in TLR4mut mice. GTE increases acetyl-coenzyme A precursors and spermidine to a greater extent than the loss-of-TLR4 signaling. Select metabolites associated with thiol metabolism are similarly affected by GTE and the loss-of-TLR4 signaling. Glycerophospholipid catabolites are decreased by GTE, but are unaffected in TLR4mut mice. Conversely, the loss-of-TLR4 signaling but not GTE increases several bile acid metabolites. CONCLUSION: GTE limitedly alters the hepatic metabolome consistent with a TLR4-dependent mechanism. This suggests that the anti-inflammatory activities of GTE and loss-of-TLR4 signaling that regulate hepatic metabolism to abrogate NASH are likely due to distinct mechanisms.

Anti-inflammatory activities of green tea catechins along the gut-liver axis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: lessons learned from preclinical and human studies.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is the most prevalent hepatic disorder worldwide, affecting 25% of the general population, describes a spectrum of progressive liver conditions ranging from relatively benign liver steatosis and advancing to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, and cirrhosis. Hallmark features of NASH are fatty hepatocytes and inflammatory cell infiltrates in association with increased activation of hepatic nuclear factor kappa-B (NFκB) that exacerbates liver injury. Because no pharmacological treatments exist for NAFLD, emphasis has been placed on dietary approaches to manage NASH risk. Anti-inflammatory bioactivities of catechin-rich green tea extract (GTE) have been well-studied, especially in preclinical models that have detailed its effects on inflammatory responses downstream of NFκB activation. This review will therefore discuss the experimental evidence that has advanced an understanding of the mechanisms by which GTE, either directly through its catechins or potentially indirectly through microbiota-derived metabolites, limits NFκB activation and NASH-associated liver injury. Specifically, it will describe the hepatic-level benefits of GTE that attenuate intracellular redox distress and pro-inflammatory signaling from extracellular receptors that otherwise activate NFκB. In addition, it will discuss the anti-inflammatory activities of GTE on gut barrier function as well as prebiotic and antimicrobial effects on gut microbial ecology that help to limit the translocation of gut-derived endotoxins (e.g. lipopolysaccharides) to the liver where they otherwise upregulate NFκB activation by Toll-like receptor-4 signaling. This summary is therefore expected to advance research translation of the hepatic- and intestinal-level benefits of GTE and its catechins to help manage NAFLD-associated morbidity.

Epigallocatechin gallate but not catechin prevents nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in mice similar to green tea extract while differentially affecting the gut microbiota.

Catechin-rich green tea extract (GTE) protects against nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) by alleviating gut-derived endotoxin translocation and hepatic Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4)-nuclear factor κB (NFκB) inflammation. We hypothesized that intact GTE would attenuate NASH-associated responses along the gut-liver axis to a greater extent than purified (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) or (+)-catechin (CAT). Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a low-fat diet, a high-fat (HF) diet, or the HF diet with 2% GTE, 0.3% EGCG or 0.3% CAT for 8 weeks prior to assessing NASH relative to endotoxemia, hepatic and intestinal inflammation, intestinal tight junction proteins (TJPs) and gut microbial ecology. GTE prevented HF-induced obesity to a greater extent than EGCG and CAT, whereas GTE and EGCG more favorably attenuated insulin resistance. GTE, EGCG and CAT similarly attenuated serum alanine aminotransferase and serum endotoxin, but only GTE and EGCG fully alleviated HF-induced NASH. However, hepatic TLR4/NFκB inflammatory responses that were otherwise increased in HF mice were similarly attenuated by GTE, EGCG and CAT. Each treatment also similarly prevented the HF-induced loss in expression of intestinal TJPs and hypoxia inducible factor-1α and the otherwise increased levels of ileal and colonic TNFα mRNA and fecal calprotectin protein concentrations. Gut microbial diversity that was otherwise lowered in HF mice was maintained by GTE and CAT only. Further, microbial metabolic functions were more similar between GTE and CAT. Collectively, GTE catechins similarly protect against endotoxin-TLR4-NFκB inflammation in NASH, but EGCG and CAT exert differential prebiotic and antimicrobial activities suggesting that catechin-mediated shifts in microbiota composition are not entirely responsible for their benefits along the gut-liver axis.

Intestinal-level anti-inflammatory bioactivities of catechin-rich green tea: Rationale, design, and methods of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial in metabolic syndrome and healthy adults.

Metabolic endotoxemia initiates low-grade chronic inflammation in metabolic syndrome (MetS) and provokes the progression towards more advanced cardiometabolic disorders. Our recent works in obese rodent models demonstrate that catechin-rich green tea extract (GTE) improves gut barrier integrity to alleviate the translocation of gut-derived endotoxin and its consequent pro-inflammatory responses mediated through Toll-like receptor-4/nuclear factor κB (TLR4/NFκB) signaling. The objective of this clinical trial is to establish the efficacy of GTE to alleviate metabolic endotoxemia-associated inflammation in persons with MetS by improving gut barrier function. We plan a double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over trial in persons with MetS and age- and gender-matched healthy persons (18-65 y; n = 20/group) who will receive a low-energy GTE-rich (1 g/day; 890 mg total catechins) confection snack food while following a low-polyphenol diet for 28 days. Assessments will include measures of circulating endotoxin (primary outcome) and secondary outcomes including biomarkers of endotoxin exposure, region-specific measures of intestinal permeability, gut microbiota composition, diversity, and functions, intestinal and systemic inflammatory responses, and catechins and microbiota-derived catechin metabolites. Study outcomes will provide the first report of the GTE-mediated benefits that alleviate gut barrier dysfunction in relation to endotoxemia-associated inflammation in MetS persons. This is expected to help establish an effective dietary strategy to mitigate the growing burden of MetS that currently affects ~35% of Americans.

Green Tea Extract Treatment in Obese Mice with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Restores the Hepatic Metabolome in Association with Limiting Endotoxemia-TLR4-NFκB-Mediated Inflammation.

SCOPE: Catechin-rich green tea extract (GTE) alleviates nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) by lowering endotoxin-TLR4 (Toll-like receptor-4)-NFκB (nuclear factor kappa-B) inflammation. This study aimed to define altered MS-metabolomic responses during high-fat (HF)-induced NASH that are restored by GTE utilizing livers from an earlier study in which GTE decreased endotoxin-TLR4-NFκB liver injury. METHODS AND RESULTS: Mice are fed a low-fat (LF) or HF diet for 12 weeks and then randomized to LF or HF diets containing 0% or 2% GTE for an additional 8 weeks. Global MS-based metabolomics and targeted metabolite profiling of catechins/catechin metabolites are evaluated. GTE in HF mice restores hepatic metabolites implicated in dyslipidemia insulin resistance, and inflammation. These include 122 metabolites: amino acids, lipids, nucleotides, vitamins, bile acids, flavonoids, xenobiotics, and carbohydrates. Hepatic amino acids, B-vitamins, and bile acids are inversely correlated with biomarkers of insulin resistance, liver injury, steatosis, and inflammation. Further, phosphatidylcholine metabolites are positively correlated with biomarkers of liver injury and NFκB inflammation. Thirteen catechin metabolites are identified in livers of GTE-treated mice, mostly as phase II conjugates of parental catechins or microbial-derived valerolactones. CONCLUSION: The defined anti-inflammatory/metabolic interactions advance an understanding of the mechanism by which GTE catechins protect against NFκB-mediated liver injury in NASH.

Green tea extract prevents obesity in male mice by alleviating gut dysbiosis in association with improved intestinal barrier function that limits endotoxin translocation and adipose inflammation.

Gut-derived endotoxin translocation provokes obesity by inducing TLR4/NFκB inflammation. We hypothesized that catechin-rich green tea extract (GTE) would protect against obesity-associated TLR4/NFκB inflammation by alleviating gut dysbiosis and limiting endotoxin translocation. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a low-fat (LF) or high-fat (HF) diet containing 0% or 2% GTE for 8 weeks. At Week 7, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran was administered by oral gavage before assessing its serum concentrations as a gut permeability marker. HF-feeding increased (P<.05) adipose mass and adipose expression of genes involved in TLR4/NFκB-dependent inflammation and macrophage activation. GTE attenuated HF-induced obesity and pro-inflammatory gene expression. GTE in HF mice decreased serum FITC-dextran, and attenuated portal vein and circulating endotoxin concentrations. GTE in HF mice also prevented HF-induced decreases in the expression of intestinal tight junction proteins (TJPs) and hypoxia inducible factor-1α while preventing increases in TLR4/NFκB-dependent inflammatory genes. Gut microbial diversity was increased, and the Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes ratio was decreased, in HF mice fed GTE compared with HF controls. GTE in LF mice did not attenuate adiposity but decreased endotoxin and favorably altered several gut bacterial populations. Serum FITC-dextran was correlated with portal vein endotoxin (P<.001; rP=0.66) and inversely correlated with colonic mRNA levels of TJPs (P<.05; rP=-0.38 to -0.48). Colonic TJPs mRNA were inversely correlated with portal endotoxin (P<.05; rP=-0.33 to -0.39). These data suggest that GTE protects against diet-induced obesity consistent with a mechanism involving the gut-adipose axis that limits endotoxin translocation and consequent adipose TLR4/NFκB inflammation by improving gut barrier function.

Dairy milk, regardless of fat content, protects against postprandial hyperglycemia-mediated impairments in vascular endothelial function in adults with prediabetes by limiting oxidative stress responses that reduce nitric oxide bioavailability.

Postprandial hyperglycemia (PPH) transiently impairs vascular endothelial function (VEF) in an oxidative-stress-dependent manner by decreasing nitric oxide (NO•) bioavailability. Dairy milk, regardless of fat content, attenuates PPH, but whether this improves VEF by limiting oxidative stress responses that otherwise decrease NO• bioavailability is not known. We hypothesized that nonfat and full-fat dairy milk would similarly improve VEF by attenuating PPH-induced oxidative stress that otherwise decreases NO• biosynthesis and bioavailability. A randomized, crossover trial was conducted in adults with prediabetes (n=22) who ingested glucose (75 g) dissolved in 473 ml of water (GLU), or glucose with an equal volume of nonfat dairy milk (NFM) or full-fat dairy milk (FFM). Prior to and at 30-min intervals for 180 min postprandially, we assessed brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and measured circulating biomarkers of glycemic control, oxidative stress and NO• homeostasis. AUC0-180 min for FMD and NO• metabolites was lowest in GLU but relatively greater in NFM and FFM. Compared with GLU, AUCs for glucose, malondialdehyde, F2-isoprostanes and endothelin-1 were similarly lower in dairy trials. Milk-mediated vasoprotection was accompanied by greater levels of plasma arginine and lower levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine and symmetric dimethylarginine. Postprandial insulin, lipids and tetrahydrobiopterin redox status did not differ among trials. Thus, dairy milk, regardless of its fat content, attenuates PPH-mediated impairments in VEF by limiting oxidative stress. This improves NO• bioavailability to the vascular endothelium by increasing arginine availability and limiting competitive inhibition on NO• biosynthesis by asymmetric dimethylarginine.

Green tea extract inhibits early oncogenic responses in mice with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) increases hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk. We hypothesized that the hepatoprotective anti-inflammatory benefits of catechin-rich green tea extract (GTE) would protect against HCC progression by inhibiting NASH-associated liver injury and pro-oncogenic responses. We used an HCC model in high-fat (HF)-fed mice that mimics early oncogenic events during NASH without inducing tumorigenesis and premature mortality. Male C57BL/6J mice (4-weeks old) were fed a HF diet containing GTE at 0% or 2%. Mice were administered saline or diethylnitrosamine (DEN; 60 mg kg-1, i.p.) at 5-weeks and 7-weeks of age. NASH, inflammation, fibrosis, and oncogenic responses were assessed at 25-weeks of age. Saline-treated mice showed prominent histopathological signs of steatosis and hepatocellular ballooning. Although DEN did not impact adiposity, steatosis, ballooning and hepatic lipid accumulation, these parameters were attenuated by GTE regardless of DEN. Hepatic lipid peroxidation and fibrosis that were increased by DEN were attenuated by GTE. Hepatic TLR4, MCP1 and TNFα mRNA levels were unaffected by DEN, whereas iNOS was increased by DEN. These transcripts were lowered by GTE. GTE attenuated the frequency of PCNA+ hepatocytes and mRNA expression of cyclin D1, MIB1 and Ki-67 that were otherwise increased by DEN. GTE increase APAF1 mRNA that was otherwise lowered by DEN. Relative to saline-treated mice, DEN increased mRNA levels of oncostatin M, gp130, c-Fos, c-Myc and survivin; each was lowered by GTE in DEN-treated mice. These findings indicate that GTE may protect against hepatic oncogenesis by limiting early steps in the carcinogenic cascade related to NASH-associated HCC.

Green tea extract protects against hepatic NFκB activation along the gut-liver axis in diet-induced obese mice with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by reducing endotoxin and TLR4/MyD88 signaling.

Green tea extract (GTE) reduces NFκB-mediated inflammation during nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We hypothesized that its anti-inflammatory activities would be mediated in a Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-dependent manner. Wild-type (WT) and loss-of-function TLR4-mutant (TLR4m) mice were fed a high-fat diet containing GTE at 0 or 2% for 8 weeks before assessing NASH, NFκB-mediated inflammation, TLR4 and its adaptor proteins MyD88 and TRIF, circulating endotoxin, and intestinal tight junction protein mRNA expression. TLR4m mice had lower (P<.05) body mass compared with WT mice but similar adiposity, whereas body mass and adiposity were lowered by GTE regardless of genotype. Liver steatosis, serum alanine aminotransferase, and hepatic lipid peroxidation were also lowered by GTE in WT mice, and were similarly lowered in TLR4m mice regardless of GTE. Phosphorylation of the NFκB p65 subunit and pro-inflammatory genes (TNFα, iNOS, MCP-1, MPO) were lowered by GTE in WT mice, and did not differ from the lowered levels in TLR4m mice regardless of GTE. TLR4m mice had lower TLR4 mRNA, which was also lowered by GTE in both genotypes. TRIF expression was unaffected by genotype and GTE, whereas MyD88 was lower in mice fed GTE regardless of genotype. Serum endotoxin was similarly lowered by GTE regardless of genotype. Tight junction protein mRNA levels were unaffected by genotype. However, GTE similarly increased claudin-1 mRNA in the duodenum and jejunum and mRNA levels of occludin and zonula occluden-1 in the jejunum and ileum. Thus, GTE protects against inflammation during NASH, likely by limiting gut-derived endotoxin translocation and TLR4/MyD88/NFκB activation.