Metagenome-Scale Metabolic Network Suggests Folate Produced by Bifidobacterium longum Might Contribute to High-Fiber-Diet-Induced Weight Loss in a Prader–Willi Syndrome Child

Gut-microbiota-targeted nutrition intervention has achieved success in the management of obesity, but its underlying mechanism still needs extended exploration. An obese Prader–Willi syndrome boy lost 25.8 kg after receiving a high-fiber dietary intervention for 105 days. The fecal microbiome sequencing data taken from the boy on intervention days 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 105, along with clinical indexes, were used to construct a metagenome-scale metabolic network. Firstly, the abundances of the microbial strains were obtained by mapping the sequencing reads onto the assembly of gut organisms through use of reconstruction and analysis (AGORA) genomes. The nutritional components of the diet were obtained through the Virtual Metabolic Human database. Then, a community model was simulated using the Microbiome Modeling Toolbox. Finally, the significant Spearman correlations among the metabolites and the clinical indexes were screened and the strains that were producing these metabolites were identified. The high-fiber diet reduced the overall amount of metabolite secretions, but the secretions of folic acid derivatives by Bifidobacterium longum strains were increased and were significantly relevant to the observed weight loss. Reduced metabolites might also have directly contributed to the weight loss or indirectly contribute by enhancing leptin and decreasing adiponectin. Metagenome-scale metabolic network technology provides a cost-efficient solution for screening the functional microbial strains and metabolic pathways that are responding to nutrition therapy.

Effects of Multi-Bacteria Solid-State Fermented Diets with Different Crude Fiber Levels on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, and Microbial Flora of Finishing Pigs

This study aimed to investigate the effects of multi-bacteria solid-state fermented diets with different crude fiber (CF) levels on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and microbial flora of finishing pigs. The multi-bacteria solid-state fermented diets were made up of Lactobacillus amylovorus, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis, and Candida utilis. According to a 2 (factors) × 2 (levels) design, with the two factors being multi-bacteria solid-state fermentation (fed non-fermented diet or multi-bacteria fermentation) or CF levels (fed a basal diet containing 2.52% CF or 7.00% CF), a total of 36 finishing pigs (70.80 ± 5.75 kg) were divided into 4 treatments with 9 barrows per group: (1) pigs fed a diet containing 7.00% CF (HF), (2) pigs fed a multi-bacteria fermentation diet containing 7.00% CF (HFM), (3) pigs fed a diet containing 2.52% CF (LF), and (4) piglets fed a multi-bacteria fermentation diet containing 2.52% CF (LFM). This experiment lasted 28 days. The multi-bacteria solid-state fermented diet increased the backfat thickness (p < 0.05) and apparent total tract nutrient digestibility (ATTD) of CF, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), crude protein (CP), 8 amino acids (Trp, Asp, Gly, Cys, Val, Met, Ile, and Leu), total essential amino acids (EAA), total non-essential amino acids (NEEA), and total amino acids (TAA) (p < 0.05). Multi-bacteria solid-state fermented diet increased serum concentrations of HDL-c, ABL, TP, and GLU, the serum enzyme activities of GSH-Px, T-AOC, SOD, and CAT (p < 0.05), the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Oscillospira, and Coprococcus (p < 0.05), and the abundance of YAMINSYN3-PWY, PWY-7013, GOLPDLCAT-PWY, ARGORNPROST-PWY, and PWY-5022 pathways (p < 0.05). The multi-bacteria solid-state fermented diet reduced the digestion amount of CF, NDF, and ADF (p < 0.05), the serum concentrations of TC, TG, LDL-c, BUN, and MDA (p < 0.05), the relative abundance of Streptococcaceae (p < 0.05), and the abundance of PWY-6470, PWY0-862, HSERMETANA-PWY, LACTOSECAT-PWY, MET-SAM-PWY, PWY-6700, PWY-5347, PWY0-1061, and LACTOSECAT-PWY pathways (p < 0.05). The high-fiber diet increased average daily feed intake (p < 0.05), the serum concentrations of TC, TG, LDL-c, BUN, and MDA (p < 0.05), the relative abundance of Clostridiaceae_Clostridium and Coprococcus (p < 0.05), and the abundance of TCA-GLYOX-BYPASS, GLYCOLYSIS-TCA-GLYOX-BYPASS, and PWY-6906 pathways (p < 0.05). The high-fiber diet reduced chest circumference (p < 0.05) and ATTD of ether extract (EE), CF, NDF, ADF, Ca, CP, 18 amino acids (Trp, Thr, Val, Met, Ile, Leu, Phe, Lys, His, Arg Asp, Ser, Glu, Gly, Ala, Cys, Tyr, and Pro), EAA, NEAA, and TAA (p < 0.05). The high-fiber diet also reduced the serum concentrations of HDL-c, TP, ABL, and GLU, the serum enzyme activities of T-AOC, GSH-Px, SOD, and CAT (p < 0.05), and the relative abundance of Akkermansia and Oscillospira (p < 0.05). There was no significant effect of the interaction between multi-bacteria fermentation and dietary CF levels, except on the digestion amount of CF (p < 0.05). The 7.00% CF had a negative effect on the digestion of nutrients, but multi-bacteria solid-state fermentation diets could relieve this negative effect and increase backfat thickness. High-fiber diets and multi-bacteria solid-state fermentation improved the diversity and abundance of fecal microorganisms in finishing pigs.

PSIX-5 Diet is more powerful than age in shaping the rumen bacterial community and function of dairy cattle

The objective was to understand the effects of diet and age on the rumen bacterial community and function, 48 dairy cattle were selected. Rumen fluid samples were collected from each animal at 1.5 (1.5M, milk and starter diet, n=8), 6 (6M, starter and oat grass, n=8), 9 (9M, high fiber diet, n=8), 18 (18M, high fiber diet, n=8), 23 (23M, high fiber diet, n=8) and 27 (27M, high grain diet, n=8) months old. The acetate/propionate ratio (A/P) at M9, M18, and M23 were significantly higher than M27 and M1.5 (P &lt; 0.05), while the A/P at M6 was lower than others (P &lt; 0.05). The total volatile fatty acid at M23 and M27 was higher than others (P &lt; 0.05). The urease at M18 was significantly lower than M1.5, M6, and M9 (P &lt; 0.05), and the xylanase at M18 was significantly higher than M1.5, M23, and M27 (P &lt; 0.05). 16S rRNA sequencing data and the Linear discriminant analysis showed that thirty-three bacteria were identified as biomarkers among ages and diets. The age and diet contributed 7.98% and 32.49% to the rumen bacteria community using the variation partitioning approach analysis. The norank_f_p-251-o5 was significantly and positively correlated with age (r = 0.83, P &lt; 0.01), while Eubacterium was significantly and negatively correlated with age (r = -0.84, P &lt; 0.01). Dietary fiber showed a strong correlation (r &gt; 0.80, P &lt; 0.01) with Lachnospiraceae, NK4A214_group, Saccharofermentans, Clostridia, Pseudobutyrivibrio Bacteroidales_UCG-001. These genera also negatively correlated with dietary crude protein and starch (r &lt; - 0.80, P &lt; 0.01). All these bacteria were significantly correlated with A/P, acetate, and urease (r &gt; 0.5, P &lt; 0.05). These findings collectively indicated that diet drives the great ability to shape the rumen bacteria community and function than age.

Influence of Diet on the Effect of the Probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei in Rats Suffering From Allergic Asthma

Mounting evidence suggests that probiotics can be used to treat allergic asthma by modulating the gut microbiota, and that the effects of probiotics may be influenced by environmental factors such as diet. We conducted a rat model with allergic asthma (AA) modulated by Lactobacillus paracasei, feeding up with high-fat or high-fiber diets based on collecting data from 85 questionnaires. The systemic proinflammatory cytokines were detected by ELISA and the overall structure of fecal microbiota was analyzed via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The results showed consumption of a high-fiber diet alleviated the allergic symptoms and airway inflammation, and led to improving the imbalance of T-helper type 1 (Th1)/Th2 cells with increased expression of interferon-γ and decreased expression of interleukin-4. Whereas, the high-fat diet had deteriorating implications and skewed the inflammatory perturbation. Furthermore, abundances of phylum Bacteroidetes, families Muribaculaceae, Tannerellaceae, Prevotellaceae, Enterococcaceae, genera Allobaculum, Parabacteroides, and Enterococcus were enriched in L. paracasei-modulating rats fed with high-fiber diet. Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, families Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae and Desulfovibrionaceae, genera Blautia, unidentified_Ruminococcaceae, unidentified_Clostridiales and Oscillibacter were in relatively high abundance in the rats administered high-fat diet. Association between changed microbiota and inflammatory cytokines was also conferred. These data indicated that the efficacy of L. paracasei in allergic asthma was influenced by different dietary patterns. Hence, diet is important for probiotic therapy when managing allergic asthma.

A High-Fiber Diet Intervention Improves Diet Quality and Is Related to Blood Pressure and Bacteriome Composition in Caregiver-Child Dyads

Objectives High-fiber dietary patterns are associated with cardiovascular health and intestinal microbiome composition. Caregivers influence diets of children, affecting dyadic health and microbiomes. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the relationship between changes in caregiver diet quality and caregiver and child: 1) systolic blood pressure (SBP) and 2) fecal bacteriome composition. Methods Caregiver-child (age 8–9 years) dyads were randomized to either a 10-week high-fiber diet intervention (fruits, vegetables, and whole grains) or control. Caregiver diet quality (30-day FFQs and Healthy Eating Index (HEI)), and caregiver and child SBP and fecal samples were collected pre- and post-intervention. Fecal bacteriomes were analyzed via 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. HEI and SBP were tested via 2-way ANOVA. Bacteriome differentials (i.e., ratio of amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) with related relative abundances) associated with HEI were identified via Songbird and Qurro. Caregiver HEI was used to guide differential assembly in caregiver bacteriomes and as a proxy for child diet quality to guide differential assembly in child bacteriomes. Pearson correlations assessed inter-data relationships. Results Complete data were collected from 19 caregivers and 16 children. Intervention caregivers increased total (T) HEI (+4.4 vs − 1.7 points, P = 0.047) and whole grain (WG) HEI component scores (+1.7 vs 0 points, P = 0.014) compared to control. WG-HEI was correlated with caregiver SBP (r = −0.37, P = 0.046). T-HEI was correlated with caregiver and child T-HEI bacteriome differentials (r = 0.36, P = 0.027 and r = 0.57, P = 0.001). WG-HEI correlated with caregiver and child WG-HEI bacteriome differentials (r = 0.45, P = 0.013 and r = 0.60, P &lt; 0.001). Child WG-HEI differential correlated with child SBP (r = −0.46, P = 0.01). Five ASVs were shared between caregiver and child T-HEI bacteriome differentials, implying shared bacterial responses to intervention. Conclusions A high-fiber dietary intervention positively impacts diet quality and is related to changes in SBP and bacteriome composition in caregiver-child dyads. Metabolites derived from bacterial metabolism of dietary fiber should be investigated for their role in blood pressure. Funding Sources USDA NIFA, Nationwide Children's Hospital.

Severe Constipation in a Wheelchair-Bound, Elderly Woman

Constipation is a common household word. Effective remedies in most cases are also simple household remedies such as over-the-counter medicines, lifestyle modification, and a high fiber diet. In the hospital setting, constipation is multifactorial, with multiple etiologies explained in this case study. Complications can lead to abdominal pain and more serious complications like ischemic bowel, toxic megacolon, perforation, and even death. Causes of serious complications include diabetic gastroparesis, paralytic ileus, or surgical adhesions. These are explored in the paper and gives the reader a deeper realistic medical insight into the seriousness of the situation. Osteopathic techniques to treat constipation are discussed and demonstrated to the caregiver with great response.