Targeting Gut Microbiome and the Recovery of Muscle Loss Associated with Cancer (Cachexia): An Overview of the Possible Effect of Bee Products

Abstract

Current research emphasizes the contribution of gut microbiome to numerous health conditions including cancer and skeletomuscular disorders. Cachexia is a debilitating condition of progressive loss of body tissues. It occurs in up to 80% of patients with tumors, and it impairs their functioning and quality of life and increases morbidity and premature death. Several randomized trials indicate that interventions, which target gut microbiome can correct and revert tissue loss in aged people. However, less is known about the effect of such strategies in cachectic muscle loss. This report briefly sheds the light on the role of gut-muscle axis in cachexia and demonstrates few examples on interventions addressing gut microbiome and their effect on cachectic muscle. It also speculates the literature for the skeletal muscle-promoting activity of bee products, particularly bee honey and propolis (which are quite handy), within the context of cachexia. Implications for future studies are discussed.

Physical Frailty/Sarcopenia as a Key Predisposing Factor to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Its Complications in Older Adults

“…The term "cachexia" describes excessive unintentional weight loss among individuals suffering from chronic debilitating diseases such as cancer. Its prevalence in the general patient population is 1% and in cancer patients is 50-80% [14,50,51]. Most patients with cachexia and malnutrition are sarcopenic-disease-related and nutrition-related secondary sarcopenia [15,48].…”

“…Negative regulators, which contribute to muscle atrophy, are more profound in cachectic muscle than in sarcopenic muscle (e.g., atrogin-1, ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), muscle ring finger-1 (MuRF1), NF-κB, myostatin, etc.). This explains the progressive nature of muscle loss in sarcopenia and the steep nature of muscle loss in cachexia [14,51]. Sarcopenia, malnutrition, cachexia, and frailty are inter-related regarding their physical aspects, underling etiological factors, and adverse effects (e.g., disability, dependency, institutionalization, falls, and premature death) [14,15,49,53].…”

“…The symbiotic interactions of gut microbiome are essential for proper physiological functioning and good health. Therefore, gut microbiota represents a major environmental factor involved in dietary energy sparing and regulation of host immunity, endocrine response, and metabolism [51,62,93,113]. However, gut microbiome undergoes alterations, especially in advanced age due to skeletal muscle disuse/inactivity, poor dentition, chewing and taste problems, altered food intake, and poor food choices (e.g., low fiber diet) [113,[152][153][154].…”

“…Bee products such as royal jelly, propolis, and bee honey express strong anti-aging properties and enhance cellular functioning in various body tissues [70,117,166,167]. In fact, natural honey and propolis are reported to counteract muscle loss in cachectic animals [51,168,169]. The anti-cachectic properties of propolis and honey were most evident when combined with phenols extracted from grape seeds [168] and aloe vera (L.) Burm.…”

Vitamin K in COVID-19—Potential Anti-COVID-19 Properties of Fermented Milk Fortified with Bee Honey as a Natural Source of Vitamin K and Probiotics

“…In the meantime, they can exert a synergistic inhibitory effect on the growth of Helicobacter pylori [131]. Honey is capable of correcting gut-microbiome dysfunction and related dysbiosis because of the antipathogenic activities exerted by its hydrogen peroxide content, oligosaccharides, and polyphenols [132,133]. Therefore, the intake of honey-milk mixture may correct gut microbial alterations and related gastrointestinal symptoms, which act as the main source of malnutrition in COVID-19 patients [25,28].…”