Clostridium butyricum Potentially Improves Immunity and Nutrition through Alteration of the Microbiota and Metabolism of Elderly People with Malnutrition in Long-Term Care

Abstract

Recent research advances examining the gut microbiome and its association with human health have indicated that microbiota-targeted intervention is a promising means for health modulation. In this study, elderly people in long-term care (aged 83.2 ± 5.3 year) with malnutrition (MNA-SF score ≤ 7) were recruited in a community hospital for a 12-week randomized, single-blind clinical trial with Clostridium butyricum. Compared with the basal fluctuations of the control group, an altered gut microbiome was observed in the intervention group, with increased (p < 0.05) Coprobacillus species, Carnobacterium divergens, and Corynebacterium_massiliense, and the promoted growth of the beneficial organisms Akketmanse muciniphila and Alistipes putredinis. A concentrated profile of 14 increased Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) orthologs (KOs) that were enriched in cofactor/vitamin production and carbohydrate metabolism pathways were discovered; the genes were found to be correlated (p < 0.05) with an elevated abundance of plasma metabolites and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), unsaturated medium- to long-chain fatty acids (MFA, LFA), carnitines, and amino acids, thus suggesting a coordinated ameliorated metabolism. Proinflammatory factor interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels decreased (p < 0.05) throughout the intervention, while the gut barrier tight junction protein, occludin, rose in abundance (p = 0.059), and the sensitive nutrition biomarker prealbumin improved, in contrast to the opposite changes in control. Based on our results obtained during a relatively short intervention time, C. butyricum might have great potential for improving nutrition and immunity in elderly people in long-term care with malnutrition through the alteration of gut microbiota, increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria and activating the metabolism in SCFA and cofactor/vitamin production, bile acid metabolism, along with efficient energy generation.

Clostridium butyricum potentially improves inflammation and immunity through alteration of the microbiota and metabolism of gastric cancer patients after gastrectomy

“…However, two weeks after gastrectomy, we observed significant decreases in four SCFAs including acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid and isobutyric acid, which were significantly recovered after oral supplementation with C. butyricum. A clinical study has found that C. butyricum can improve the nutrition and immunity of the malnourished elderly through changing the gut microbiota, increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria, activating SCFAs metabolism and the production of cofactors (43). Kan Ding et al demonstrated that Crataegus pinnatifida polysaccharide could inhibit colitis by altering the gut microbiota, especially Bacteroides, and producing SCFAs (44).…”

Gut microbiome in healthy aging versus those associated with frailty

“… 29 , 30 , 32 Intervention studies of another probiotic mixture ( B. longum Bar33 and Lactobacillus helveticus Bar13) and Clostridium butyricum for 30 days and 12 weeks, respectively, also showed significant improvements in immunity. 55 , 61 In the latter study, increases in the abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Akkermansia muciniphila and Alistipes putredinis , were observed after the intervention. 61 Additionally, the consumption of probiotics containing B. bifidum BGN4 and B. longum BORI for 12 weeks by healthy older adults significantly increased levels of serum blood brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is known to be essential for learning and memory, while significantly reducing the abundance of inflammation-causing gut bacteria, including Eubacterium , Allisonella , and Prevotellaceae.…”

“… 55 , 61 In the latter study, increases in the abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Akkermansia muciniphila and Alistipes putredinis , were observed after the intervention. 61 Additionally, the consumption of probiotics containing B. bifidum BGN4 and B. longum BORI for 12 weeks by healthy older adults significantly increased levels of serum blood brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is known to be essential for learning and memory, while significantly reducing the abundance of inflammation-causing gut bacteria, including Eubacterium , Allisonella , and Prevotellaceae. 56 In older adults with declining memory, L. plantarum OLL2712 consumption for 12 weeks significantly improved composite memory and visual memory and decreased the relative abundances of Lachnoclostridium , Monoglobus , and Oscillibacter , which are related to the inflammatory response.…”

Surgical Prehabilitation in Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancers: Impact of Unimodal and Multimodal Programs on Postoperative Outcomes and Prospects for New Therapeutic Strategies—A Systematic Review

“…For example, Fusobacterium nucleatum is abundant in colorectal cancer patients with recurrence after chemotherapy and is associated with resistance to treatment [ 66 ]. Other microbiota species, namely Atopobium vaginae , Selenomonas sputigena , and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii , have been identified as diagnostic biomarkers of malnutrition and poor prognosis in colorectal cancer [ 21 ], whereas Clostridium butyricum may have great potential for improving the nutritional status of malnourished patients [ 22 ]. Concerning probiotics, a 2-week probiotic intervention in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma did not improve postoperative complications and mortality [ 36 ].…”

“…Recent innovations in nutritional therapy could also be discussed as part of such prehabilitation programs. Indeed, there is a growing interest in the modulation of gut microbiota through probiotics, symbiotics, or fecal microbiota transplantation to improve nutritional status, and recent studies suggest a link between malnutrition and fecal microbiota in colorectal cancer patients [ 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Finally, pharmaceutical molecules such as anamorelin could also contribute to prehabilitation programs.…”