Water-soluble dietary fiber is known to modulate fecal microbiota. Although there are a few reports investigating the effects of fiber intake timing on metabolism, there are none on the effect of intake timing on microbiota. Therefore, in this study, we examined the timing effects of inulin-containing food on fecal microbiota. Mice were housed under conditions with a two-meals-per-day schedule, with a long fasting period in the morning and a short fasting period in the evening. Then, 10–14 days after inulin intake, cecal content and feces were collected, and cecal pH and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were measured. The microbiome was determined using 16S rDNA sequencing. Inulin feeding in the morning rather than the evening decreased the cecal pH, increased SCFAs, and changed the microbiome composition. These data suggest that inulin is more easily digested by fecal microbiota during the active period than the inactive period. Furthermore, to confirm the effect of fasting length, mice were housed under a one-meal-per-day schedule. When the duration of fasting was equal, the difference between morning and evening nearly disappeared. Thus, our study demonstrates that consuming inulin at breakfast, which is generally after a longer fasting period, has a greater effect on the microbiota.
Water-soluble dietary fiber such as inulin improves the beta diversity of the intestinal microbiota of mice fed with a high-fat diet (HFD). The circadian clock is the system that regulates the internal daily rhythm, and it affects the pattern of beta diversity in mouse intestinal microbiota. Burdock (Arctium lappa) root contains a high concentration of inulin/fructan (approximately 50%) and is a very popular vegetable in Japan. Arctium lappa also contains functional substances that may affect intestinal microbiota, such as polyphenols. We compared the effects of inulin and A. lappa powder on the diversity of the intestinal microbiota of HFD-fed mice. 16S rDNA from the intestinal microbiota obtained from feces was analyzed by 16S Metagenomic Sequencing Library Preparation. It was found to have a stronger effect on microbiota than inulin alone, suggesting that inulin has an additive and/or synergic action with other molecules in A. lappa root. We examined the effects of intake timing (breakfast or dinner) of A. lappa on intestinal microbiota. The intake of A. lappa root in the evening had a stronger effect on microbiota diversity in comparison to morning intake. Therefore, it is suggested that habitual consumption of A. lappa root in the evening may aid the maintenance of healthy intestinal microbiota.
Jerusalem artichokes contain high amounts of inulin, which is a prebiotic that supports digestive health, as well as a variety of insoluble fibers and caffeoylquinic acid. The individual impact of these components on gut microbiota is well known; however, the combinatorial effects are less clear. In this investigation, we fractionated Jerusalem artichokes into three parts (water-soluble extract, insoluble extract, and organic extract) and powdered them. Mice were fed a high-fat diet that included one or more of these extracts for 10 days, and then their cecal pH, cecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and fecal microbiota were evaluated. The combination of the water-soluble and organic extract decreased cecal pH and increased the concentration of SCFAs and led to dynamic changes in the composition of the gut microbiota. These results demonstrate that both the water-soluble and organic extracts in Jerusalem artichokes are bioactive substances that are capable of changing SCFA production and the composition of gut microbiota. Powdered Jerusalem artichokes, rather than inulin supplements, may be superior for promoting a healthy gut.
Adolescent alcohol exposure may increase anxiety-like behaviors by altering central monoaminergic functions and other important neuronal pathways. the present study was designed to investigate the anxiolytic effect of 0.5% γ-oryzanol (GORZ) and its neurochemical and molecular mechanisms under chronic 10% ethanol consumption. Five-week-old ICR male mice received either control (14% casein, AIN 93 M) or GORZ (14% casein, AIN 93 M + 0.5% GORZ) diets in this study. We showed that GORZ could potentially attenuate alcohol-induced anxiety-like behaviors by significantly improving the main behavioral parameters measured by the elevated plus maze test. Moreover, GORZ treatment significantly restored the alcohol-induced downregulation of 5-hydroxytryptophan and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid in the hippocampus and improved homovanillic acid levels in the cerebral cortex. Furthermore, a recovery increase in the level of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol both in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex supported the anxiolytic effect of GORZ. The significant elevation and reduction in the hippocampus of relative mRnA levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and interleukin 1β, respectively, also showed the neuroprotective role of GORZ in ethanol-induced anxiety. Altogether, these results suggest that 0.5% GORZ is a promising neuroprotective drug candidate with potential anxiolytic, neurogenic, and anti-neuroinflammatory properties for treating adolescent alcohol exposure. The high prevalence of alcohol exposure among adolescents is an important issue for public health 1-3 worldwide. Chronic ethanol consumption during adolescence may alter the risk/reward assessment and damage the developing brain, leading to an increase in impulsivity 4. Furthermore, underage drinking may also increase major depression risk and anxiety disorders 5,6 later in life. In addition, central nervous monoaminergic functions are altered after adolescent ethanol exposure 7-10 and may lead to neurological changes that reduce a person's normal fear of the consequences of their actions, and contribute to risk-taking or violent behaviors. The brain is more vulnerable to alcohol during growth and development, and many studies consistently show that teens with drinking alcohol are more likely to experience alcohol-related health problems, such as obesity, diabetes, liver and heart diseases, dementia and some forms of cancer, later in life than teens who abstain. The most commonly used medicines for patients with mood and anxiety disorders exert their effects by modifying monoaminergic neurotransmission. In particular, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) target the serotonergic system and block the reuptake of serotonin from the synaptic cleft by inhibiting the serotonin transporter and enhancing the amount of free serotonin available. Notably, there is molecular, physiological, and clinical evidence suggesting that the serotonergic system plays pivotal role in the neural circuitry of mood and anxiety disorders 11-13. The functional and structural chang...
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