Resistant Maltodextrin Intake Reduces Virulent Metabolites in the Gut Environment: A Randomized Control Study in a Japanese Cohort

Abstract

In recent years, there have been many reports on the effects of prebiotics on intestinal health. In particular, the consumption of resistant maltodextrin (RMD) has been reported to be beneficial. However, there has been no comprehensive quantification of the effect of RMD on the intestinal environment. Therefore, this study aimed to quantify the effects of RMD on the intestine, especially the intestinal microbiome and metabolome profiles. A randomized, double-blind, and controlled trial was conducted in 29 Japanese subjects, whose hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels are larger than 6% (Clinical trial no. UMIN000023970, https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000027589). The subjects consumed RMD or placebo twice per day for 24 weeks. Blood and fecal samples were collected before and after the intake. The intestinal environment was assessed by a metabologenomics approach, involving 16S rRNA gene-based microbiome analysis and mass spectrometry-based metabolome analysis. The intake of RMD increased the levels of Bifidobacterium and Fusicatenibacter and decreased deoxycholate levels. Additionally, intake of RMD lowered the levels of some opportunistic virulent metabolites, such as imidazole propionate and trimethylamine, in subjects with an initially high amount of those metabolites. RMD may have beneficial effects on the gut environment, such as commensal microbiota modulation and reduction of virulence metabolites, which is known as a causative factor in metabolic disorders. However, the effects of RMD partially depend on the gut environmental baseline.

The Usefulness of Resistant Maltodextrin and Chitosan Oligosaccharide in Management of Gut Leakage and Microbiota in Chronic Kidney Disease

“…However, indigestible, fermentable, resistant maltodextrin was proven to have prebiotic functions, as consumption of RMD increased gut microbiota richness, particularly the Bifidobacteria count, and short chain fatty acid (SCFA) production [40][41][42]. Recent reports revealed that when compared to FOS, RDM intake was more efficient in the production of acetate, butyrate, propionate, and total SCFA, as well as lower in trimethylamine synthesis [13,43]. However, evidence was lacking about the impact of RMD on disease prevention, including intestinal epithelium and kidney health.…”

Nutri-microbiome epidemiology, an emerging field to disentangle the interplay between nutrition and microbiome for human health

“…In addition, ImP levels were positively associated with saturated fat intake (driven by high cheese intake), and negatively associated with fiber and unsaturated fat intake (driven by reduced intake of vegetables and nuts) ( Molinaro et al, 2020 ). One intervention study conducted by Nishimoto et al demonstrated that the intake of resistant maltodextrin (one of the dietary fibers) could reduce fecal ImP levels among Japanese participants ( Nishimoto et al, 2022 ). For the dietary pattern, serum ImP levels were inversely associated with the alternate Healthy Eating Index, dietary diversity score, and MedDiet score ( Molinaro et al, 2020 ).…”

Resistant Maltodextrin Suppresses Intestinal Phenols Production by Modifying the Intestinal Environment

“…A previous study showed that RMD increases intestinal levels of Bifidobacterium in humans (17,18). In addition, a recent study reported that RMD improved the E-mail: akane-kanasaki@matsutani.co.jp gut environment by reducing the production of virulent intestinal metabolites and causing positive alterations of the intestinal microbiota in Japanese humans (19).…”