Effect of coffee or coffee components on gut microbiome and short-chain fatty acids in a mouse model of metabolic syndrome.

We previously showed that male Tsumura Suzuki obese diabetes (TSOD) mice, a spontaneous mouse model of metabolic syndrome, manifested gut dysbiosis and subsequent disruption of the type and quantity of plasma short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and daily coffee intake prevented nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in this mouse model. Here, we present a preliminary study on whether coffee and its major components, caffeine and chlorogenic acid, would affect the gut dysbiosis and the disrupted plasma SCFA profile of TSOD mice, which could lead to improvement in the liver pathology of these mice. Three mice per group were used. Daily intake of coffee or its components for 16 wk prevented liver lobular inflammation without improving obesity in TSOD mice. Coffee and its components did not repair the altered levels of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and an increased abundance of Firmicutes in TSOD mice but rather caused additional changes in bacteria in six genera. However, caffeine and chlorogenic acid partially improved the disrupted plasma SCFA profile in TSOD mice, although coffee had no effects. Whether these alterations in the gut microbiome and the plasma SCFA profile might affect the liver pathology of TSOD mice may deserve further investigation.

The Relationship of Pollen Dispersal with Allergy Symptoms and Immunotherapy: Allergen Immunotherapy Improves Symptoms in the Late Period of Japanese Cedar Pollen Dispersal.

BACKGROUND: The severity of symptoms of pollen-induced allergic rhinitis is affected by the amount of scattered pollen. However, the relationships between the pollen dispersal pattern, symptom severity, and treatment efficacy are not clear. METHODS: Between 2007 and 2012, we performed 4 randomized, placebo-controlled studies of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) on patients with Japanese cedar-induced allergic rhinitis who lived in or around Chiba, Japan. The participants were asked to avoid using rescue medicines during the cedar pollen season as much as possible and to record their nasal symptoms in allergy diaries. The amount of pollen dispersed daily was quantified using the Durham method, and the season was divided into early and late periods based on the pollen count. RESULTS: A total of 721 patients were enrolled in the 4 studies during the 6-year study period. In the placebo group (n = 349), a correlation was observed between the amount of pollen dispersed and the severity of symptoms in the early but not late period of pollen dispersal. Treatment with SLIT (n = 372) significantly improved symptom severity in the late but not early period. CONCLUSION: For patients with Japanese cedar pollen-induced allergic rhinitis, the fluctuation of daily pollen dispersal had a minimal effect on the severity of symptoms during the late period. SLIT was remarkably effective in alleviating symptoms during this period but not in the early period.

Fish oil-enriched nutrition combined with systemic chemotherapy for gastrointestinal cancer patients with cancer cachexia.

Despite recent advances in chemotherapy for gastrointestinal cancer, a crucial factor related to poor prognosis is reduced tolerance to chemotherapy induced by cancer cachexia. Fish oil (FO)-derived eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) modulates inflammation in patients with various malignancies; however, the impact of FO-enriched nutrition as a combined modality therapy on clinical outcomes remains controversial. We systemically analysed chronological changes in biochemical and physiological status using bioelectrical impedance analysis in 128 gastrointestinal cancer patients provided with or without FO-enriched nutrition during chemotherapy. Furthermore, we evaluated the clinical significance of FO-enriched nutrition and clarified appropriate patient groups that receive prognostic benefits from FO-enriched nutrition during treatment of gastrointestinal cancer. The control group showed significant up-regulation of serum CRP) levels and no significant difference in both skeletal muscle mass and lean body mass. In contrast, the FO-enriched nutrition group showed no changes in serum CRP concentration and significantly increased skeletal muscle mass and lean body mass over time. Furthermore, high CRP levels significantly correlated with reduced tolerance to chemotherapy, and FO-enriched nutrition improved chemotherapy tolerance and prognosis, particularly in gastrointestinal cancer patients with a modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS) of 1 or 2. We conclude that FO-enriched nutrition may improve the prognosis of patients with cancer cachexia and systemic inflammation (i.e., those with a mGPS of 1 or 2).

Daily Coffee Intake Inhibits Pancreatic Beta Cell Damage and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis in a Mouse Model of Spontaneous Metabolic Syndrome, Tsumura-Suzuki Obese Diabetic Mice.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome is one of the most important health issues worldwide. Obesity causes insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and various diseases throughout the body. The liver phenotype, which is called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), frequently progresses to hepatocellular carcinoma. We recently established a new animal model, Tsumura-Suzuki obese diabetic (TSOD) mice, which spontaneously exhibit obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and NASH with liver nodules. METHODS: We examined the effects of coffee intake on various conditions of the metabolic syndrome using TSOD mice. The daily volume of coffee administered was limited so that it reflected the appropriate quantities consumed in humans. To clarify the effects of the specific components, animals were divided into two coffee-intake groups that included with and without caffeine. RESULTS: Coffee intake did not significantly affect obesity and hyperlipidemia in TSOD mice. In contrast, coffee intake caused various degrees of improvement in the pancreatic beta cell damage and steatohepatitis with liver carcinogenesis. Most of the effects were believed to be caused by a synergistic effect of caffeine with other components such as polyphenols. However, the antifibrotic effects of coffee appeared to be due to the polyphenols rather than the caffeine. CONCLUSIONS: A daily habit of drinking coffee could possibly play a role in the prevention of metabolic syndrome.