Soybean isolate protein complexes with different concentrations of inulin by ultrasound treatment: Structural and functional properties.

The effects of ultrasound and different inulin (INU) concentrations (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 mg/mL) on the structural and functional properties of soybean isolate protein (SPI)-INU complexes were hereby investigated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that SPI was bound to INU via hydrogen bonding. All samples showed a decreasing and then increasing trend of α-helix content with increasing INU concentration. SPI-INU complexes by ultrasound with an INU concentration of 20 mg/mL (U-2) had the lowest content of α-helix, the highest content of random coils and the greatest flexibility, indicating the proteins were most tightly bound to INU in U-2. Both UV spectroscopy and intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy indicated that it was hydrophobic interactions between INU and SPI. The addition of INU prevented the exposure of tryptophan and tyrosine residues to form a more compact tertiary structure compared to SPI alone, and ultrasound caused further unfolding of the structure of SPI. This indicated that the combined effect of ultrasound and INU concentration significantly altered the tertiary structure of SPI. SDS-PAGE and Native-PAGE displayed the formation of complexes through non-covalent interactions between SPI and INU. The ζ-potential and particle size of U-2 were minimized to as low as -34.94 mV and 110 nm, respectively. Additionally, the flexibility, free sulfhydryl groups, solubility, emulsifying and foaming properties of the samples were improved, with the best results for U-2, respectively 0.25, 3.51 µmoL/g, 55.51 %, 269.91 %, 25.90 %, 137.66 % and 136.33 %. Overall, this work provides a theoretical basis for improving the functional properties of plant proteins.

Unlocking the growth potential: harnessing the power of synbiotics to enhance cultivation of Pleurotus spp. / é‡Šæ”¾ç”Ÿé•¿æ½œåŠ›ï¼šåˆ©ç”¨åˆç”Ÿå ƒçš„åŠ›é‡åŠ å¼ºä¾§è€³å±žæ¤ç‰©ç§æ¤.

The oyster mushroom (Pleurotus spp.) is one of the most widely cultivated mushroom species globally. The present study investigated the effect of synbiotics on the growth and quality of Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus pulmonarius. Different synbiotics formulations were applied by spraying mushroom samples daily and measuring their growth parameters, yield, biological efficiency, proximate composition, mineral content, total phenolic content (TPC), and diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. Results demonstrated that the most significant yield of oyster mushrooms was harvested from synbiotics sprayed with inulin and Lactobacillus casei (56.92 g). Likewise, the highest biological efficiency obtained with a similar synbiotic was 12.65%. Combining inulin and L. casei was the most effective method of improving the mushrooms' growth performance and nutrient content in both samples. Furthermore, synbiotics that combined inulin and L. casei resulted in the highest TPC (20.550 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g dry extract (DE)) in white oyster mushrooms (P. ostreatus). In comparison, in grey mushroom (P. pulmonarius) the highest TPC was yielded by L. casei (1.098 mg GAE/g DE) followed by inulin and L. casei (1.079 mg GAE/g DE). The DPPH results indicated that the oyster mushroom could be an efficient antioxidant. The results revealed that applying synbiotics improved the mushrooms' quality by increasing their antioxidant capacity with higher amounts of phenolic compounds and offering better health benefits with the increased levels of mineral elements. Together, these studies demonstrated the potential of using synbiotics as a biofertilizer, which is helpful for mushroom cultivation; therefore, it might solve the challenge of inconsistent quality mushroom growers face.

Textural, rheological, melting properties, particle size distribution, and NMR relaxometry of cocoa hazelnut spread with inulin-stevia addition as sugar replacer.

This study investigated the influence of substituting 60, 80, and 100% of the sugar in traditional cocoa hazelnut paste (control) formulation with inulin-stevia (90:10, w/w) mixture on textural and rheological characteristics, melting behavior, water activity (aw), particle size distribution (PSD), and color. Textural, rheological, melting properties, and color of samples were analyzed after 1, 2, and 3 months of storage at 11°C. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry experiments were also performed to understand the interaction of new ingredients with oil. Replacement of sugar with inulin-stevia gave darker color, reduced Casson yield stress, and changed the textural parameters and melting profile of the samples depending on the level but did not create a remarkable effect on PSD and Casson plastic viscosity. Increasing inulin-stevia content yielded lower aw and higher T2a values indicating decreased mobility of water. Complete removal of sugar caused low spreadability. The results showed that an 80% replacement level yielded a product with similar textural parameters and fat-melting mouth feeling compared to control sample. Cocoa hazelnut spreads prepared with inulin and stevia showed good textural stability during storage.

Unravelling inulin molecules in food sources using a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization magnetic resonance mass spectrometry (MALDI-MRMS) pipeline.

Inulin, a polysaccharide characterized by a ß-2,1 fructosyl-fructose structure terminating in a glucosyl moiety, is naturally present in plant roots and tubers. Current methods provide average degrees of polymerization (DP) but lack information on the distribution and absolute concentration of each DP. To address this limitation, a reproducible (CV < 10 %) high throughput (<2 min/sample) MALDI-MRMS approach capable of characterizing and quantifying inulin molecules in plants using matched-matrix consisting of α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid butylamine salt (CHCA-BA), chicory inulin-12C and inulin-13C was developed. The method identified variation in chain lengths and concentration of inulin across various plant species. Globe artichoke hearts, yacón and elephant garlic yielded similar concentrations at 15.6 g/100 g dry weight (DW), 16.8 g/100 g DW and 17.7 g/100 g DW, respectively, for DP range between 9 and 22. In contrast, Jerusalem artichoke demonstrated the highest concentration (53.4 g/100 g DW) within the same DP ranges. Jerusalem artichoke (DPs 9-32) and globe artichoke (DPs 9-36) showed similar DP distributions, while yacón and elephant garlic displayed the narrowest and broadest DP ranges (DPs 9-19 and DPs 9-45, respectively). Additionally, qualitative measurement for all inulin across all plant samples was feasible using the peak intensities normalized to Inulin-13C, and showed that the ratio of yacón, elephant garlic and Jerusalem was approximately one, two and three times that of globe artichoke. This MALDI-MRMS approach provides comprehensive insights into the structure of inulin molecules, opening avenues for in-depth investigations into how DP and concentration of inulin influence gut health and the modulation of noncommunicable diseases, as well as shedding light on refining cultivation practices to elevate the beneficial health properties associated with specific DPs.

Characterization of O/W emulgels based on whey protein-alginate-inulin coacervates: Influence of temperature and ultrasound as protein preconditioning process.

Preconditioning processes in proteins play a crucial role in enhancing their functional properties as surface active agents. Whey protein isolate (WPI, 20 wt%) was preconditioned via temperature (WPIT, 90 °C) or ultrasound (WPIUS, 20 kHz, 80 % amplitude). FTIR and zeta potential analysis demonstrated the effect of the preconditioning process on the secondary structure and surface properties of WPI. WPI-Alginate:Inulin (AI) complex coacervates (CCWPI:AI) were formed at pH 3.0 using WPIT and WPIUS, and the associative electrostatic interactions between WPI-AI led to coacervation yields >90 %, influenced by the preconditioning process employed. Viscoelastic properties outlined a predominantly solid-like behavior (G´ > G"). The CCWPI:AI system based on WPIT showed enhanced strength and gel-like structure compared to the WPIUS-based system. Oil-in-water (O/W) emulgels were formed and stabilized with the CCWPI:AI complexes, exhibiting spherical droplets (93.3-292.8 µm), whereas texture and rheological properties highlighted the formation of gel-like systems. The centrifugation STEP technology was used to evaluate the physical stability of emulgels, WPIT-based emulgels displayed superior stability against creaming than untreated WPI and WPIUS-based emulgels. These findings provide a basis for developing emulgels with prolonged stability and tunable functional properties, tailoring enhanced viscoelastic and texture attributes to meet specific needs for industrial applications where gel-like properties are pursued.

Prebiotic utilisation provides Lactiplantibacillus plantarum a competitive advantage in vitro, but is not reflected by an increased intestinal fitness.

Synbiotics combine the concepts of probiotics and prebiotics to synergistically enhance the health-associated effects of both components. Previously, we have shown that the intestinal persistence of inulin-utilizing L. plantarum Lp900 is significantly increased in rats fed an inulin-supplemented, high-calcium diet. Here we employed a competitive population dynamics approach to demonstrate that inulin and GOS can selectively enrich L. plantarum strains that utilize these substrates for growth during in vitro cultivation, but that such enrichment did not occur during intestinal transit in rats fed a GOS or inulin-supplemented diet. The intestinal persistence of all L. plantarum strains increased irrespective of their prebiotic utilization phenotype, which was dependent on the calcium level of the diet. Analysis of fecal microbiota and intestinal persistence decline rates indicated that prebiotic utilization capacity did not selectively stimulate intestinal persistence in prebiotic supplemented diets. Moreover, microbiota and organic acid profile analyses indicate that the prebiotic utilizing probiotic strains are vastly outcompeted by the endogenous prebiotic-utilizing microbiota, and that the collective enhanced persistence of all L. plantarum strains is most likely explained by their well-established tolerance to organic acids.

Dietary fiber is a critical determinant of pathologic ILC2 responses and intestinal inflammation.

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) can promote host defense, chronic inflammation, or tissue protection and are regulated by cytokines and neuropeptides. However, their regulation by diet and microbiota-derived signals remains unclear. We show that an inulin fiber diet promotes Tph1-expressing inflammatory ILC2s (ILC2INFLAM) in the colon, which produce IL-5 but not tissue-protective amphiregulin (AREG), resulting in the accumulation of eosinophils. This exacerbates inflammation in a murine model of intestinal damage and inflammation in an ILC2- and eosinophil-dependent manner. Mechanistically, the inulin fiber diet elevated microbiota-derived bile acids, including cholic acid (CA) that induced expression of ILC2-activating IL-33. In IBD patients, bile acids, their receptor farnesoid X receptor (FXR), IL-33, and eosinophils were all upregulated compared with controls, implicating this diet-microbiota-ILC2 axis in human IBD pathogenesis. Together, these data reveal that dietary fiber-induced changes in microbial metabolites operate as a rheostat that governs protective versus pathologic ILC2 responses with relevance to precision nutrition for inflammatory diseases.

Exploring the Role of Inulin in Targeting the Gut Microbiota: An Innovative Strategy for Alleviating Colonic Fibrosis Induced By Irradiation.

The use of radiation therapy to treat pelvic and abdominal cancers can lead to the development of either acute or chronic radiation enteropathy. Radiation-induced chronic colonic fibrosis is a common gastrointestinal disorder resulting from the above radiation therapy. In this study, we establish the efficacy of inulin supplements in safeguarding against colonic fibrosis caused by irradiation therapy. Studies have demonstrated that inulin supplements enhance the proliferation of bacteria responsible to produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and elevate the levels of SCFAs in feces. In a mouse model of chronic radiation enteropathy, the transplantation of gut microbiota and its metabolites from feces of inulin-treated mice were found to reduce colonic fibrosis in validation experiments. Administering inulin-derived metabolites from gut microbiota led to a notable decrease in the expression of genes linked to fibrosis and collagen production in mouse embryonic fibroblast cell line NIH/3T3. In the cell line, inulin-derived metabolites also suppressed the expression of genes linked to the extracellular matrix synthesis pathway. The results indicate a novel and practical approach to safeguarding against chronic radiation-induced colonic fibrosis.

Inulin protects against the harmful effects of dietary emulsifiers on mice gut microbiome.

Background: The prevalence of inflammatory bowel diseases is increasing, especially in developing countries, with adoption of Western-style diet. This study aimed to investigate the effects of two emulsifiers including lecithin and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) on the gut microbiota, intestinal inflammation and the potential of inulin as a means to protect against the harmful effects of emulsifiers. Methods: In this study, male C57Bl/6 mice were divided into five groups (n:6/group) (control, CMC, lecithin, CMC+inulin, and lecithin+inulin). Lecithin and CMC were diluted in drinking water (1% w/v) and inulin was administered daily at 5 g/kg for 12 weeks. Histological examination of the ileum and colon, serum IL-10, IL-6, and fecal lipocalin-2 levels were analyzed. 16S rRNA gene V3-V4 region amplicon sequencing was performed on stool samples. Results: In the CMC and lecithin groups, shortening of the villus and a decrease in goblet cells were observed in the ileum and colon, whereas inulin reversed this effect. The lipocalin level, which was 9.7 ± 3.29 ng in the CMC group, decreased to 4.1 ± 2.98 ng with the administration of inulin. Bifidobacteria and Akkermansia were lower in the CMC group than the control, while they were higher in the CMC+inulin group. In conclusion, emulsifiers affect intestinal health negatively by disrupting the epithelial integrity and altering the composition of the microbiota. Inulin is protective on their harmful effects. In addition, it was found that CMC was more detrimental to microbiota composition than lecithin.

Effect of inulin on breath hydrogen, postprandial glycemia, gut hormone release, and appetite perception in RYGB patients: a prospective, randomized, cross-over pilot study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Large intestinal fermentation of dietary fiber may control meal-related glycemia and appetite via the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and the secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY (PYY). We investigated whether this mechanism contributes to the efficacy of the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) by assessing the effect of oligofructose-enriched inulin (inulin) vs. maltodextrin (MDX) on breath hydrogen (a marker of intestinal fermentation), plasma SCFAs, gut hormones, insulin and blood glucose concentrations as well as appetite in RYGB patients. METHOD: Eight RYGB patients were studied on two occasions before and ~8 months after surgery using a cross-over design. Each patient received 300 ml orange juice containing 25 g inulin or an equicaloric load of 15.5 g MDX after an overnight fast followed by a fixed portion snack served 3 h postprandially. Blood samples were collected over 5 h and breath hydrogen measured as well as appetite assessed using visual analog scales. RESULTS: Surgery increased postprandial secretion of GLP-1 and PYY (P ≤ 0.05); lowered blood glucose and plasma insulin increments (P ≤ 0.05) and reduced appetite ratings in response to both inulin and MDX. The effect of inulin on breath hydrogen was accelerated after surgery with an increase that was earlier in onset (2.5 h vs. 3 h, P ≤ 0.05), but less pronounced in magnitude. There was, however, no effect of inulin on plasma SCFAs or plasma GLP-1 and PYY after the snack at 3 h, neither before nor after surgery. Interestingly, inulin appeared to further potentiate the early-phase glucose-lowering and second-meal (3-5 h) appetite-suppressive effect of surgery with the latter showing a strong correlation with early-phase breath hydrogen concentrations. CONCLUSION: RYGB surgery accelerates large intestinal fermentation of inulin, however, without measurable effects on plasma SCFAs or plasma GLP-1 and PYY. The glucose-lowering and appetite-suppressive effects of surgery appear to be potentiated with inulin.

An inulin-type fructan CP-A from Codonopsis pilosula attenuates experimental colitis in mice by promoting autophagy-mediated inactivation of NLRP3 inflammasome.

Inulin-type fructan CP-A, a predominant polysaccharide in Codonopsis pilosula, demonstrates regulatory effects on immune activity and anti-inflammation. The efficacy of CP-A in treating ulcerative colitis (UC) is, however, not well-established. This study employed an in vitro lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced colonic epithelial cell model (NCM460) and an in vivo dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model to explore CP-A's protective effects against experimental colitis and its underlying mechanisms. We monitored the clinical symptoms in mice using various parameters: body weight, disease activity index (DAI), colon length, spleen weight, and histopathological scores. Additionally, molecular markers were assessed through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), immunofluorescence (IF), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and Western blotting assays. Results showed that CP-A significantly reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukins (IL-6, IL-1ß, IL-18) in LPS-induced cells while increasing IL-4 and IL-10 levels and enhancing the expression of Claudin-1, ZO-1, and occludin proteins in NCM460 cells. Correspondingly, in vivo findings revealed that CP-A administration markedly improved DAI, reduced colon shortening, and decreased the production of myeloperoxidase (MPO), malondialdehyde (MDA), ROS, IL-1ß, IL-18, and NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-associated genes/proteins in UC mice. CP-A treatment also elevated glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, stimulated autophagy (LC3B, P62, Beclin-1, and ATG5), and reinforced Claudin-1 and ZO-1 expression, thereby aiding in intestinal epithelial barrier repair in colitis mice. Notably, the inhibition of autophagy via chloroquine (CQ) diminished CP-A's protective impact against colitis in vivo. These findings elucidate that CP-A's therapeutic effect on experimental colitis possibly involves mitigating intestinal inflammation through autophagy-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome inactivation. Consequently, inulin-type fructan CP-A emerges as a promising drug candidate for UC treatment.

Prebiotics for induction and maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND: People affected by ulcerative colitis (UC) are interested in dietary therapies as treatments that can improve their health and quality of life. Prebiotics are a category of food ingredients theorised to have health benefits for the gastrointestinal system through their effect on the growth and activity of intestinal bacteria and probiotics. OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy and safety of prebiotics for the induction and maintenance of remission in people with active UC. SEARCH METHODS: We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov, and WHO ICTRP on 24 June 2023. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on people with UC. We considered any type of standalone or combination prebiotic intervention, except those prebiotics combined with probiotics (known as synbiotics), compared to any control intervention. We considered interventions of any dose and duration. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We followed standard Cochrane methodology. MAIN RESULTS: We included 9 RCTs involving a total of 445 participants. Study duration ranged from 14 days to 2 to 3 months for induction and 1 to 6 months for maintenance of remission. All studies were on adults. Five studies were on people with mild to moderate active disease, three in remission or mild activity, and one did not mention. We judged only one study as at low risk of bias in all areas. Two studies compared prebiotics with placebo for induction of remission. We cannot draw any conclusions about clinical remission (70% versus 67%; risk ratio (RR) 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.57 to 1.94); clinical improvement (mean Rachmilewitz score on day 14 of 4.1 versus 4.5; mean difference (MD) -0.40, 95% CI -2.67 to 1.87); faecal calprotectin levels (mean faecal calprotectin on day 14 of 1211 µg/mL versus 3740 µg/mL; MD -2529.00, 95% CI -6925.38 to 1867.38); interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels (mean IL-8 on day 7 of 2.9 pg/mL versus 5.0 pg/mL; MD -2.10, 95% CI -4.93 to 0.73); prostaglandin E2 (PGE-2) levels (mean PGE-2 on day 7 of 7.1 ng/mL versus 11.5 ng/mL; MD -4.40, 95% CI -20.25 to 11.45); or withdrawals due to adverse events (21% versus 8%; RR 2.73, 95% CI 0.51 to 14.55). All evidence was of very low certainty. No other outcomes were reported. Two studies compared inulin and oligofructose 15 g with inulin and oligofructose 7.5 g for induction of remission. We cannot draw any conclusions about clinical remission (53% versus 12.5%; RR 4.27, 95% CI 1.07 to 16.96); clinical improvement (67% versus 25%; RR 2.67, 95% CI 1.06 to 6.70); total adverse events (53.5% versus 31%; RR 1.71, 95% CI 0.72 to 4.06); or withdrawals due to adverse events (13% versus 25%; RR 0.53, 95% CI 0.11 to 2.50). All evidence was of very low certainty. No other outcomes were reported. One study compared prebiotics and anti-inflammatory therapy with anti-inflammatory therapy alone for induction of remission. We cannot draw any conclusions about clinical improvement (mean Lichtiger score at 4 weeks of 6.2 versus 10.3; MD -4.10, 95% CI -8.14 to -0.06) or serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (mean CRP levels at 4 weeks 0.55 ng/mL versus 0.50 ng/mL; MD 0.05, 95% CI -0.37 to 0.47). All evidence was of very low certainty. No other outcomes were reported. Three studies compared prebiotics with placebo for maintenance of remission. There may be no difference between groups in rate of clinical relapse (44% versus 33%; RR 1.36, 95% CI 0.79 to 2.31), and prebiotics may lead to more total adverse events than placebo (77% versus 46%; RR 1.68, 95% CI 1.18 to 2.40). The evidence was of low certainty. We cannot draw any conclusions about clinical improvement (mean partial Mayo score at day 60 of 0.428 versus 1.625; MD -1.20, 95% CI -2.17 to -0.22); faecal calprotectin levels (mean faecal calprotectin level at day 60 of 214 µg/mL versus 304 µg/mL; MD -89.79, 95% CI -221.30 to 41.72); quality of life (mean Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) score at day 60 of 193.5 versus 188.0; MD 5.50, 95% CI -8.94 to 19.94); or withdrawals due to adverse events (28.5% versus 11%; RR 2.57, 95% CI 1.15 to 5.73). The evidence for these outcomes was of very low certainty. No other outcomes were reported. One study compared prebiotics with synbiotics for maintenance of remission. We cannot draw any conclusions about quality of life (mean IBDQ score at 4 weeks 182.4 versus 176.1; MD 6.30, 95% CI -6.61 to 19.21) or withdrawals due to adverse events (23% versus 20%; RR 1.13, 95% CI 0.48 to 2.62). All evidence was of very low certainty. No other outcomes were reported. One study compared prebiotics with probiotics for maintenance of remission. We cannot draw any conclusions about quality of life (mean IBDQ score at 4 weeks 182.4 versus 168.6; MD 13.60, 95% CI 1.22 to 25.98) or withdrawals due to adverse events (22.5% versus 22.5%; RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.44 to 2.26). All evidence was of very low certainty. No other outcomes were reported. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There may be no difference in occurrence of clinical relapse when adjuvant treatment with prebiotics is compared with adjuvant treatment with placebo for maintenance of remission in UC. Adjuvant treatment with prebiotics may result in more total adverse events when compared to adjuvant treatment with placebo for maintenance of remission. We could draw no conclusions for any of the other outcomes in this comparison due to the very low certainty of the evidence. The evidence for all other comparisons and outcomes was also of very low certainty, precluding any conclusions. It is difficult to make any clear recommendations for future research based on the findings of this review given the clinical and methodological heterogeneity among studies. It is recommended that a consensus is reached on these issues prior to any further research.

When will the Glomerular Filtration Rate in Former Preterm Neonates Catch up with Their Term Peers?

AIMS: Whether and when glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in preterms catches up with term peers is unknown. This study aims to develop a GFR maturation model for (pre)term-born individuals from birth to 18 years of age. Secondarily, the function is applied to data of different renally excreted drugs. METHODS: We combined published inulin clearance values and serum creatinine (Scr) concentrations in (pre)term born individuals throughout childhood. Inulin clearance was assumed to be equal to GFR, and Scr to reflect creatinine synthesis rate/GFR. We developed a GFR function consisting of GFRbirth (GFR at birth), and an Emax model dependent on PNA (with GFRmax, PNA50 (PNA at which half of GFR max is reached) and Hill coefficient). The final GFR model was applied to predict gentamicin, tobramycin and vancomycin concentrations. RESULT: In the GFR model, GFRbirth varied with birthweight linearly while in the PNA-based Emax equation, GA was the best covariate for PNA50, and current weight for GFRmax. The final model showed that for a child born at 26 weeks GA, absolute GFR is 18%, 63%, 80%, 92% and 96% of the GFR of a child born at 40 weeks GA at 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years and 12 years, respectively. PopPK models with the GFR maturation equations predicted concentrations of renally cleared antibiotics across (pre)term-born neonates until 18 years well. CONCLUSIONS: GFR of preterm individuals catches up with term peers at around three years of age, implying reduced dosages of renally cleared drugs should be considered below this age.

The emergence of inflammatory microglia during gut inflammation is not affected by FFAR2 expression in intestinal epithelial cells or peripheral myeloid cells.

Gut inflammation can trigger neuroinflammation and is linked to mood disorders. Microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) can modulate microglia, yet the mechanism remains elusive. Since microglia do not express free-fatty acid receptor (FFAR)2, but intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) and peripheral myeloid cells do, we hypothesized that SCFA-mediated FFAR2 activation within the gut or peripheral myeloid cells may impact microglia inflammation. To test this hypothesis, we developed a tamoxifen-inducible conditional knockout mouse model targeting FFAR2 exclusively on IEC and induced intestinal inflammation with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS), a well-established colitis model. Given FFAR2's high expression in myeloid cells, we also investigated its role by selectively deleting it in these populations of cells. In an initial study, male and female wild-type mice received 0 or 2% DSS for 5d and microglia were isolated 3d later to assess inflammatory status. DSS induced intestinal inflammation and upregulated inflammatory gene expression in microglia, indicating inflammatory signaling via the gut-brain axis. Despite the lack of significant effects of sex in the intestinal phenotype, male mice showed higher microglial inflammatory response than females. Subsequent studies using FFAR2 knockout models revealed that FFAR2 expression in IECs or immune myeloid cells did not affect DSS-induced colonic pathology (i.e. clinical and histological scores and colon length), or colonic expression of inflammatory genes. However, FFAR2 knockout led to an upregulation of several microglial inflammatory genes in control mice and downregulation in DSS-treated mice, suggesting that FFAR2 may constrain neuroinflammatory gene expression under healthy homeostatic conditions but may permit it during intestinal inflammation. No interactions with sex were observed, suggesting sex does not play a role on FFAR2 potential function in gut-brain communication in the context of colitis. To evaluate the role of FFAR2 activated by microbiota-derived SCFAs, we employed the same knockout and DSS models adding fermentable dietary fiber (0 or 2.5% inulin for 8 wks). Despite no genotype or fiber main effects, contrary to our hypothesis, inulin feeding augmented DSS-induced inflammation and signs of colitis, suggesting context-dependent effects of fiber. These findings highlight microglial involvement in colitis-associated neuroinflammation and advance our understanding of FFAR2's role in the gut-brain axis. Although not integral, we observed that the role of FFAR2 differs between homeostatic and inflammatory conditions, underscoring the need to consider different inflammatory conditions and disease contexts when investigating the role of FFAR2 and SCFAs in the gut-brain axis.

Restoration of Intestinal Microbiota After Inulin Supplementation Halted: The Secondary Effect of Supplemented Inulin.

SCOPE: Consumption of inulin could affect the intestinal microbiota composition. Hereby, it is aimed to investigate the intestinal microbial community restoration process when the inulin supplementation is terminated (i.e., the secondary effect). METHODS AND RESULTS: The current study investigates the response and restoration of intestinal microbiota to/after high (Inulin-H) and low (Inulin-L) dosage of inulin supplementation or sequential antibiotics and inulin (Anti-Inulin-L) supplementation, based on analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences in C57BL/6 mice. The number of significantly changed genera in response to inulin is highest in Anti-Inulin-L (n = 66) group, followed by Inulin-H (n = 51) and Inulin-L (n = 38) group. After inulin supplementation stops, microbiota of all studied groups tend to recover to their original states, with highest percentage of inulin-responding microbes stay significantly different at Anti-Inulin-L (93.94%) group, followed by Inulin-H (74.51%) and Inulin-L (44.12%) groups. Of note, the relative abundance of some non-inulin-responding taxa significantly increases during restoration. CONCLUSION: Sequential antibiotics and inulin supplementation induce greatest changes in the intestinal microbial composition, followed by high and low dosage of inulin. Additionally, the changes induce by supplemented inulin in the intestinal microbial community, provide a chance for some microbes to outcompete the other microbes during the spontaneous restoration.

Quality characteristics of cereal-based foods enriched with different degree of polymerization inulin: A review.

Vegetables, cereals and fruit are foods rich in fibre with beneficial and nutritional effects as their consumption reduces the onset of degenerative diseases, especially cardiovascular ones. Among fibres, inulin, oligofructose or fructooligosaccharide (FOS) are the best-studied. Inulin is a generic term to cover all linear ß(2-1) fructans, with a variable degree of polymerization. In this review a better understanding of the importance of the degree of polymerization of inulin as a dietary fibre, functions, health benefits, classifications, types and its applications in the food industry was considered in different fortified foods. Inulin has been used to increase the nutritional and healthy properties of the product as a sweetener and as a substitute for fats and carbohydrates, improving the nutritional value and decreasing the glycemic index, with the advantage of not compromising taste and consistency of the product. Bifidogenic and prebiotic effects of inulin have been well established, inulin-type fructans are fermented by the colon to produce short-chain fatty acids, with important local and systemic actions. Addition of inulin with different degrees of polymerization to daily foods for the production of fortified pasta and bread was reviewed, and the impact on sensorial, technological and organoleptic characteristics even of gluten-free bread was also reported.

The effect of in vitro simulated colonic pH gradients on microbial activity and metabolite production using common prebiotics as substrates.

BACKGROUND: The interplay between gut microbiota (GM) and the metabolization of dietary components leading to the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) is affected by a range of factors including colonic pH and carbohydrate source. However, there is still only limited knowledge on how the GM activity and metabolite production in the gastrointestinal tract could be influenced by pH and the pH gradient increases along the colon. RESULTS: Here we investigate the effect of pH gradients corresponding to levels typically found in the colon on GM composition and metabolite production using substrates inulin, lactose, galactooligosaccharides (GOS), and fructooligosaccharide (FOS) in an in vitro colon setup. We investigated 3 different pH regimes (low, 5.2 increasing to 6.4; medium, 5.6 increasing to 6.8 and high, 6.0 increasing to 7.2) for each fecal inoculum and found that colonic pH gradients significantly influenced in vitro simulated GM structure, but the influence of fecal donor and substrate was more pronounced. Low pH regimes strongly influenced GM with the decreased relative abundance of Bacteroides spp. and increased Bifidobacterium spp. Higher in vitro simulated colonic pH promoted the production of SCFAs in a donor- and substrate-dependent manner. The butyrate producer Butyricimonas was enriched at higher pH conditions, where also butyrate production was increased for inulin. The relative abundance of Phascolarctobacterium, Bacteroides, and Rikenellaceae also increased at higher colonic pH, which was accompanied by increased production of propionate with GOS and FOS as substrates. CONCLUSIONS: Together, our results show that colonic substrates such as dietary fibres influence GM composition and metabolite production, not only by being selectively utilized by specific microbes, but also because of their SCFA production, which in turn also influences colonic pH and overall GM composition and activity. Our work provides details about the effect of the gradients of rising pH from the proximal to distal colon on fermenting dietary substrates in vitro and highlights the importance of considering pH in GM research.

Protective Effects of Inulin on Stress-Recurrent Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the digestive tract and is closely associated with the homeostasis of the gut microbiota. Inulin, as a natural prebiotic, displays anti-inflammatory activity and maintains equilibrium of the intestinal microbiota. In this study, our research aimed to explore the potential of inulin in enhancing intestinal immunity and reducing inflammation in stress-recurrent IBD. In this study, a co-culture intestinal epithelium model and a stress-recurrent IBD mouse model was used to examine the protective effects of inulin. It was observed that inulin digesta significantly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine expression (CXCL8/IL8 and TNFA) and increased MUC2 expression in intestinal epithelial cells. In vivo, our findings showed that Inulin intake significantly prevented IBD symptoms. This was substantiated by a decrease in serum inflammatory markers (IL-6, CALP) and a downregulation of inflammatory cytokine (Il6) in colon samples. Additionally, inulin intake led to an increase in short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in cecal contents and a reduction in the expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers (CHOP, BiP). Our results highlight that inulin can improve stress-recurrent IBD symptoms by modulating microbiota composition, reducing inflammation, and alleviating ER stress. These findings suggested the therapeutic potential of inulin as a dietary intervention for ameliorating stress-recurrent IBD.

Inulin-Coated ZnO Nanoparticles: A Correlation between Preparation and Properties for Biostimulation Purposes.

Within the framework of plant biostimulation, a pivotal role is played by the achievement of low-cost, easily prepared nanoparticles for priming purposes. Therefore, in this report, two different synthetic strategies are described to engineer zinc oxide nanoparticles with an inulin coating. In both protocols, i.e., two-step and gel-like one-pot protocols, nanoparticles with a highly pure ZnO kernel are obtained when the reaction is carried out at T ≥ 40 °C, as ascertained by XRD and ATR/FTIR studies. However, a uniformly dispersed, highly homogeneous coating is achieved primarily when different temperatures, i.e., 60 °C and 40 °C, are employed in the two phases of the step-wise synthesis. In addition, a different binding mechanism, i.e., complexation, occurs in this case. When the gel-like process is employed, a high degree of coverage by the fructan is attained, leading to micrometric coated aggregates of nanometric particles, as revealed by SEM investigations. All NPs from the two-step synthesis feature electronic bandgaps in the 3.25-3.30 eV range in line with previous studies, whereas the extensive coating causes a remarkable 0.4 eV decrease in the bandgap. Overall, the global analysis of the investigations indicates that the samples synthesized at 60 °C and 40 °C are the best suited for biostimulation. Proof-of-principle assays upon Vicia faba seed priming with Zn5 and Zn5@inu indicated an effective growth stimulation of seedlings at doses of 100 mgKg-1, with concomitant Zn accumulation in the leaves.

Study of the structural characterization, physicochemical properties and antioxidant activities of phosphorylated long-chain inulin with different degrees of substitution.

In this study, phosphorylated derivatives of long-chain inulin with different substitution degrees were prepared. The synthesized samples were named PFXL-1, PFXL-2, PFXL-3, and PFXL-4 according to their degree of substitution (from low to high). The structures of FXL and PFXL were characterized by infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and the results indicated the successful introduction of phosphate groups. FXL and PFXL were composed of two types of sugar, fructose and glucose, with a molar ratio of 0.977:0.023. The SEM results showed that phosphorylation changed the morphology of FXL from an irregular mass to small spherical aggregates. The XRD pattern showed that the crystallinity was reduced by the introduction of phosphate groups. The Mw of FXL was 2649 g/mol, and the Mw of PFXL-4 increased the most (2965 g/mol). Additionally, PFXL was more stable and uniform, and the absolute value of the PFXL potential reached 7.83 mV. Phosphorylation decreased the weight loss rate of FXL and improved the viscoelastic properties and antioxidant activity of FXL. This study presents a method for the modification of FXL, demonstrating that phosphorylation can enhance its physicochemical properties and physiological activity and suggesting its potential as a functional food and quality modifier.