Randomized Open-Label Pilot Study of the Influence of Probiotics and the Gut Microbiome on Toxic Metal Levels in Tanzanian Pregnant Women and School Children

ABSTRACT Exposure to environmental toxins is a 21st century global health problem that is often the result of dietary intake. Although efforts are made to reduce dietary toxin levels, they are often unsuccessful, warranting research into novel methods to reduce host exposure. Food-grade microbes that can be delivered to the gastrointestinal tract and that are capable of sequestering toxins present a safe and cost-effective intervention. We sought to investigate the potential for probiotic-supplemented yogurt to lower heavy metal levels in at-risk populations of pregnant women and in children in Mwanza, Tanzania, and to examine the microbiome in relation to toxin levels. Two populations suspected to have high toxic metal exposures were studied. A group of 44 school-aged children was followed over 25 days, and 60 pregnant women were followed over their last two trimesters until birth. A yogurt containing 1010 CFU Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 per 250 g was administered, while control groups received either whole milk or no intervention. Changes in blood metal levels were assessed, and the gut microbiomes of the children were profiled by analyzing 16S rRNA sequencing via the Ion Torrent platform. The children and pregnant women in the study were found to have elevated blood levels of lead and mercury compared to age- and sex-matched Canadians. Consumption of probiotic yogurt had a protective effect against further increases in mercury (3.2 nmol/liter; P = 0.035) and arsenic (2.3 nmol/liter; P = 0.011) blood levels in the pregnant women, but this trend was not statistically significant in the children. Elevated blood lead was associated with increases in Succinivibrionaceae and Gammaproteobacteria relative abundance levels in stool. IMPORTANCE Probiotic food produced locally represents a nutritious and affordable means for people in some developing countries to counter exposures to toxic metals. Further research and field trials are warranted to explore this approach in countries where communities are located near mining sites and agricultural areas, two types of areas where toxins are likely to be elevated.

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Microbiota at Multiple Body Sites during Pregnancy in a Rural Tanzanian Population and Effects of Moringa-Supplemented Probiotic Yogurt

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.00780-15 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 81 (15) ◽

pp. 4965-4975 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Jordan E. Bisanz ◽

Megan K. Enos ◽

George PrayGod ◽

Shannon Seney ◽

Jean M. Macklaim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Lactobacillus Rhamnosus ◽

16S Rrna Gene Sequencing ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Body Site ◽

African Countries ◽

Open Label ◽

Potential Health ◽

Content Type ◽

Probiotic Yogurt

ABSTRACTThe nutritional status of pregnant women is vital for healthy outcomes and is a concern for a large proportion of the world's population. The role of the microbiota in pregnancy and nutrition is a promising new area of study with potential health ramifications. In many African countries, maternal and infant death and morbidity are associated with malnutrition. Here, we assess the influence of probiotic yogurt containingLactobacillus rhamnosusGR-1, supplemented with Moringa plant as a source of micronutrients, on the health and oral, gut, vaginal, and milk microbiotas of 56 pregnant women in Tanzania. In an open-label study design, 26 subjects received yogurt daily, and 30 were untreated during the last two trimesters and for 1 month after birth. Samples were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and dietary recalls were recorded. Women initially categorized as nourished or undernourished consumed similar calories and macronutrients, which may explain why there was no difference in the microbiota at any body site. Consumption of yogurt increased the relative abundance ofBifidobacteriumand decreasedEnterobacteriaceaein the newborn feces but had no effect on the mother's microbiota at any body site. The microbiota of the oral cavity and GI tract remained stable over pregnancy, but the vaginal microbiota showed a significant increase in diversity leading up to and after birth. In summary, daily micronutrient-supplemented probiotic yogurt provides a safe, affordable food for pregnant women in rural Tanzania, and the resultant improvement in the gut microbial profile of infants is worthy of further study.

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Elevated blood lead levels in pregnant women: identification of a high-risk population and interventions

Journal of Perinatal Medicine ◽

10.1515/jpm.2007.131 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 35 (6) ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Shantanu Rastogi ◽

Kiran Nandlike ◽

William Fenster

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Blood Lead ◽

Blood Lead Levels ◽

High Risk Population ◽

Elevated Blood ◽

Risk Population ◽

Lead Levels ◽

Elevated Blood Lead Levels

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Blood levels of some toxic metals in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Type 1- infection

Annals of Health Research ◽

10.30442/ahr.0401-1-10 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 75-81 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mathias Abiodun Emokpae ◽

Ikenna Mbonu

Keyword(s):

Toxic Metals ◽

Plasma Levels ◽

Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽

Infected Individual ◽

Cadmium Concentration ◽

Toxic Metal ◽

Blood Levels ◽

Average Life Expectancy ◽

Metal Levels ◽

Hiv 1

Background: The introduction of antiretroviral therapy has reduced the mortality rate and increased the average life-expectancy of HIV-infected population. Infection probably due to the combination of the effects of environmental exposures and chronic inflammation and the role of mpact in infected individuals have been under-reported. Objective: To compare the plasma levels of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg) and nickel (Ni) in HIV 1 –positive subjects receiving highly active anti-retroviral therapy treatment (HAART) and treatment-naïve subjects. Methods: The 300 study participants comprised 100 confirmed HIV-1 positive individuals on HAART, 100 HIV-1 positive HAART-naïve and 100 HIV-1 negative controls. Plasma levels of toxic metals were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (Agilent 7500, Norwalk, USA). Results: Plasma levels of toxic metals were significantly higher among HIV-infected subjects than controls (p <0.001), with only Cadmium concentration being significantly higher (p = 0.05) among the HAART-treated subjects than HAART-naïve subjects. Conclusion: High toxic metal levels may lead to increased oxidative stress and adverse prognostic outcomes. Periodic evaluation of the blood levels of some toxic metals in HIV-1 infected individual is suggested and preventive strategies against environmental pollution should be adopted.

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Oxidative Stress, Trace and Toxic Metal Levels In Alzheimer’S Disease In Sub-Sahara Africa

10.21203/rs.3.rs-38308/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

ISHIAQ Olayinka OMOTOSHO ◽

Michael Roland Ngwube ◽

Jibril Omuya ABDUMALIK

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Toxic Metal ◽

Clinical History ◽

Genetic Alterations ◽

Stress Index ◽

Blood Levels ◽

College Hospital ◽

Lead And Cadmium ◽

Age Related ◽

Metal Levels

Abstract BackgroundAlzheimer’s disease (AD), an age-related neurodegenerative disease characterized by loss of memory has been attributed to oxidative stress induced by accumulation of Amyloid (Aβ) protein in the brain; environmental and genetic alterations have been implicated as the pathogenesis of the disease. This work investigated levels of selected trace (Iron, Zinc and Copper) and toxic (Cadmium and Lead) metals in AD patients.MethodIn this case-control study, a total of 38 participants (aged ≥ 60 years) consisting of 18 clinically diagnosed AD subjects and 20 apparently healthy age-matched adults were recruited from the University College Hospital Ibadan Geriatric Centre. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain demographic information, clinical history, lifestyle and dietary patterns from participants. Blood levels of iron, copper, zinc, lead and cadmium were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS); levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and total plasma peroxide (TPP) were determined spectrophotometrically, while oxidative stress index (OSI) and copper to zinc ratio (Cu:Zn) were calculated.ResultsMean plasma level of zinc was significantly lower in cases (86.04 ± 11.07 µg/dl) compared to controls (108.80 ± 12.47 µg/dl), while blood lead (13.85 ± 2.96 µg/dl, 8.32 ± 2.10 µg/dl) and cadmium (1.34 ± 0.71 µg/L, 0.71 ± 0.14 µg/L) levels were significantly higher in cases than in controls respectively. Although Fe and Cu levels were similar in cases and controls, Cu:Zn ratio was significantly elevated in cases compared to controls (p = 0.000). Though other OS markers were not significantly different in both groups, TPP was significantly higher in cases (64.96 ± 7.20 µmol/H2O2 vs. 55.41 ± 2.38 µmol/H2O2) while MDA correlated inversely with TAC in cases (r= − 0.477, p = 0.045).DiscussionThe low plasma Zn coupled with high blood Pb and Cd levels may precipitate the elevated TPP and Cu:Zn ratio in cases. The reduced metallothionine defense of the system as indicated by the elevated Cu:Zn ratio in cases may also exacerbate this problem.ConclusionThe damaging effect of increasing toxic metal levels may be accentuating development of oxidative stress facilitating the progression of AD.

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