The development of the gut microbiome is crucial to human health, particularly during the first three years of life. Given its role in immune development, disturbances in the establishment process of the gut microbiome may have long term consequences. This review summarizes evidence for these claims, highlighting compositional changes of the gut microbiome during this critical period of life as well as factors that affect gut microbiome development. Based on human and animal data, we conclude that the early-life microbiome is a determinant of long-term health, impacting physiological, metabolic, and immune processes. The early-life gut microbiome field faces challenges. Some of these challenges are technical, such as lack of standardized stool collection protocols, inconsistent DNA extraction methods, and outdated sequencing technologies. Other challenges are methodological: small sample sizes, lack of longitudinal studies, and poor control of confounding variables. To address these limitations, we advocate for more robust research methodologies to better understand the microbiome's role in health and disease. Improved methods will lead to more reliable microbiome studies and a deeper understanding of its impact on health outcomes.

Insulin resistance (IR) is an early marker of cardiometabolic deterioration which may develop heterogeneously in key metabolic organs, including the liver (LIR) and skeletal muscle (MIR). This tissue-specific IR is characterized by distinct metabolic signatures, but the role of the gut microbiota in its etiology remains unclear. Here, we profiled the gut microbiota, its metabolites and the plasma metabolome in individuals with either a LIR or MIR phenotype (n = 233). We observed distinct microbial community structures LIR and MIR, and higher short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) producing bacteria, fecal SCFAs and branched-chain fatty acids and a higher postprandial plasma glucagon-like-peptide-1 response in LIR. In addition, we found variations in metabolome profiles and phenotype-specific associations between microbial taxa and functional metabolite groups. Overall, our study highlights association between gut microbiota and its metabolites composition with IR heterogeneity that can be targeted in precision-based strategies to improve cardiometabolic health. Clinicaltrials.gov registration: NCT03708419.

Anaerobic fermentation (AF) processes are sensitive to temperature fluctuations, which can influence the microbial activity and overall metabolic performances. Anaerobic reactors can face unforeseen temperature control failures, leading to instabilities in the process. The present study investigated the effect of two short-term temperature perturbations (down to 20°C and 15°C) on AF of food wastes (FWs). While 20°C did not exhibit a negative impact on AF performance maintaining the bioconversion yields over 40%, the reactor subjected to 15°C presented an acidogenic limitation, which decreased the bioconversion yields (36.4 ± 1.8%). As a result, 2.2 ± 0.5 g/L of succinic acid was accumulated in the reactor, being identified as a temperature failure indicator. Once the conditions were reestablished (operation temperature of 25ºC), the metabolic redundancies identified in the reactors allowed the AFs recovery to initial fermentation yields. 20°C was further tested as operational temperature resulting in stable bioconversion yield similar to the Control Reactor (43.2 ± 0.3%). These results showed the feasibility of conducting AF under low temperatures, indicating the potential of this technology to increase the cost-effectiveness of AF at psychrophilic conditions.

In health, the gut microbiome functions as a stable ecosystem maintaining overall balance and ensuring its own survival against environmental stressors through complex microbial interaction. This balance and protection from stressors is maintained through interactions both within the bacterial ecosystem as well as with its host. As a consequence, the gut microbiome plays a critical role in various physiological processes including maintaining the structure and function of the gut barrier, educating the gut immune system, and modulating the gut motor, digestive/absorptive, as well as neuroendocrine system all of which are crucial for human health and disease pathogenesis. Pre- and probiotics, widely available and clinically established, offer various health benefits primarily by beneficially modulating the gut microbiome. However, their clinical outcomes can vary significantly due to differences in host physiology, diets, individual microbiome compositions, and other environmental factors. This perspective paper highlights emerging scientific insights into the importance of microbial micronutrient sharing, gut redox balance, keystone species, and the gut barrier in maintaining a diverse and functional microbial ecosystem, and their relevance to human health. We propose a novel approach that targets microbial ecosystems and keystone taxa performance by supplying microbial micronutrients in the form of colon-delivered vitamins, and precision prebiotics [e.g. human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) or synthetic glycans] as components of precisely tailored ingredient combinations to optimize human health. Such a strategy may effectively support and stabilize microbial ecosystems, providing a more robust and consistent approach across various individuals and environmental conditions, thus, overcoming the limitations of current single biotic solutions.

Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) is marked by harsh environments that drive the evolution of unique nutrient metabolism mechanism in indigenous animal gut microbiotas. Yet, responses of these microbiotas to different extreme environments remain poorly understood. White-lipped deer (Przewalskium albirostris), a native endangered species in the QTP, serves as an ideal model to study how gut microbiotas adapt to season and human disturbances. Here, a multi-omics integrated analysis of 16S rRNA, metagenomics, and untargeted metabolomics was performed to investigate the composition, function, and metabolic characteristics of gut microbiota in White-lipped deer across different seasons and living environments. Our results revealed that extreme winter environment dominated the composition, function, and metabolism of gut microbiota in white-lipped deer. The white-lipped deer exhibited an enriched gut microbiota associated with producing short-chain fatty acids in winter, with core feature genera including norank_o_Rhodospirillales, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, and unclassified_c_Clostridia. However, potential pathogenic bacteria and few short-chain fatty acid producers, with core feature genera including norank_f_p-2534-18B5_gut_group, Cellulosilyticum, and Paeniclostridium, showed enrichment in captivity. Pathways associated with carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and immune regulation showed enrichment in winter group as an adaptation to the cold and food scarcity. Among these, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and unclassified_c_Clostridia contributed significantly to these metabolic pathways. The gut microbiota of white-lipped deer exhibited enrichment in pathways related to intestinal inflammation and enhanced immune regulation to alleviate the stress of captivity. Among these, norank_f_p-2534-18B5_gut_group contributed the most to these pathways. Butyric, valeric, and valproic acids were significantly more abundant in the winter group, while 3-hydroxybutyric and (S)-beta-aminoisobutyric acids were higher in the captive group. Furthermore, enriched metabolites and associated pathways in both groups further supported the inferences on metagenomic functions. This study confirms the key role of specific gut microbiota in adapting to high-altitude winters and anthropogenic disturbances, emphasizing its importance for environmental resilience in wild, high-altitude mammals.

Hempseed is a rich source of dietary fiber; however, there has been limited research on the variability of carbohydrate composition in hempseed cell walls. The primary aim of this study was to conduct a comprehensive chemical and structural analysis of the cell wall polysaccharides in ten hempseed cultivars. Water-soluble polysaccharides (WSP) and water-insoluble residues (WIR) were isolated and subsequently analyzed for their monosaccharide composition using HPAEC-PAD, glycosyl linkage analysis using GC-MS, and structural characterization via NMR spectroscopy. All hempseed cultivars contained a high proportion of insoluble fibers and smaller amounts of soluble polysaccharides. Glucose and xylose were the most abundant components of the WIR fractions, while the WSP fractions contained abundant amounts of galactose, galacturonic acid, arabinose, rhamnose, and mannose. The results of linkage and spectroscopic analysis were consistent with the compositional analysis, identifying cellulose and acetylated linear xylans as primary components of WIR, and arabinogalactans, rhamnogalacturonans, heteromannans, xyloglucans, and arabinan as predominant in WSP. Overall, the study revealed a comparable cell wall structure among the analyzed hemp seed varieties. The high fiber content of whole hempseed-based ingredients presents significant potential for food manufacturers seeking to develop products with enhanced dietary fiber content, offering both functional and nutritional benefits for consumers.

Studies have shown that dysregulation of intestinal microbial structure and co-metabolic imbalance caused by diet and other factors play important role in MASLD and IBD. However, it is unclear how host-microbial interactions differ in the two diseases, and what potential impact they have on accelerating disease progression. Our study aims to find the disease characteristics in MASLD, IBD and their complication from the perspective of host-microbial metabolism. In our study, mouse models of MASLD, IBD, and MASLD-IBD induced by high-fat diet and dextran sulfate sodium. Detecting the pathological changes of colon and liver. Using 16s rRNA to screen out specific micro-flora, and UPLC-MS to monitor the changes of metabolites in feces. The micro-flora-metabolite co-expression network was constructed by Cytoscape software. The result showed that MASLD-IBD mice aggravate intestinal barrier damage, hepatic steatosis and fibrosis, immune inflammation and other pathological changes. In MASLD-IBD mice, the structural change of gut micro-flora is similar to IBD mice, which significantly reduced the abundance of Actinobacteriota, Desulfobacterota while increasing the abundance of Proteobacteria, and the metabolic disorder include nine metabolic pathways, such as tryptophan, bile acids and short-chain fatty acids, is similar to MASLD mice. Their co-expression network indicates that different specific micro-flora are closely related to the metabolic disorder and disease symptoms of MASLD-IBD mice. Analyzing the relationship between intestinal microbial dysregulation and hoetic co-metabolic imbalance is helpful to understand the mechanism of MASLD and IBD comorbidity, which suggesting that combined liver-gut therapy may be a new method for the treatment of MASLD-IBD complication.

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is characterized by recurrent reductions or interruptions in airflow during sleep, termed hypopneas and apneas, respectively. SDB impairs sleep quality and is linked to substantive health issues including cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, as well as cognitive decline. Recent evidence suggests a link between gut microbiota (GM) composition and sleep apnea. Indeed, GM, a community of microorganisms residing in the gut, has emerged as a potential player in various diseases, and several studies have identified associations between sleep apnea and GM diversity along with shifts in bacterial populations. Additionally, the concept of "leaky gut," a compromised intestinal barrier with potentially increased inflammation, has emerged as another key player in the potential bidirectional relationship between GM and sleep apnea. One of the potential effectors could be extracellular vesicles (EVs) underlying gut-brain communication pathways that are relevant to sleep regulation and function. Thus, therapeutic implications afforded by targeting the GM or exosomes for sleep apnea management have surfaced as promising areas of research. This review explores current understanding of the relationship between GM, exosomes and sleep apnea, highlighting key research dynamics and potential mechanisms. A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted, focusing on studies investigating GM composition, intestinal barrier function and gut-brain communication in relation to sleep apnea.

Moringa oleifera leaf-derived natural products offer diverse health benefits in metabolic disorders. However, the structural attributes of M. oleifera leaf polysaccharides, their transformations during gastrointestinal digestion, and their influence on gut microbiota and hypoglycemic activity remain insufficiently understood. This study isolated and purified a hypoglycemic polysaccharide (MOP-3) from M. oleifera leaves, primarily composed of arabinose, rhamnose, and galactose, with a molecular weight of 2.019 × 104 Da. Structural analysis identified glycosidic linkages, including →2)-α-L-Fucp-(1→, →2)-α-L-Araf-(1→, →2)-α-L-Rhap-(1→, →3,6)-β-D-Galp-(1→, →6)-β-D-Glcp-(1→, →2)-α-D-Xylp-(1→, →2,4)-β-D-Manp-(1→, →2,3)-α-D-GalpA-6-OMe-(1→, and →4)-β-D-GlcpA-6-OMe-(1→. MOP-3 reshapes gut microbiota by decreasing Firmicutes while increasing Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria, concurrently stimulating SCFA production, and enhancing GLP-1 secretion in STC-1 cells. The structural characterization and hypoglycemic properties of MOP-3 in this study provide a theoretical basis for further utilization of food polysaccharides.

Cardiovascular diseases impair the structure and function of distal organs, including the liver, skeletal muscle, kidney, and adipose tissue. Exercise stimulates the interaction between the cardiovascular system and distal organs that is important for disease rehabilitation and organ health. However, the mechanisms by which exercise improves cardiovascular function through exerkine-mediated organ crosstalk remain incompletely elucidated. We used cardiovascular, exercise, exerkines, skeletal muscle, liver, kidney, and adipose tissue as keywords to search for the relevant articles, sorted out the differences between different exercise types, summarized the functions of 17 exerkines, focused on reviewing and categorizing the molecular mechanisms of interactions between the cardiovascular system and remote organs. We also look forward to future research perspectives on exercise prevention and control of chronic metabolic diseases. The aim of this review is to provide a new theoretical basis for establishing clinical rehabilitation and exercise prescriptions for cardiovascular system diseases.

The gut microbiome supports both gut and overall health. Diet is known to be one of the driving factors that influences the gut microbiome. The foods we eat, the dietary and nondietary components they contain, various food consumption patterns, and the ratio of nutrients consumed have been shown to impact gut microbiome composition and function. Studies indicate that many acute and chronic diseases are associated with alterations to the gut microbiome. There are many patients who rely on enteral tube feeding for their nutrition support. More recently, enteral tube feeding formulations of "real food" have become commercially available. However, little is known about how enteral tube feeding impacts the gut microbiome in patients requiring this specialized form of nutrition therapy. This review summarizes the existing evidence regarding the food sources of commonly consumed macronutrients and their impact on the gut microbiome. Also presented is what is known regarding "standard" and real food enteral formulations on the gut microbiome. Existing evidence is suggestive that real food enteral formulations positively impact the gut microbiome. Still, more research is needed on ready-to-feed formulations, particularly in patients with various clinical conditions, and how gut microbiome modulation impacts clinical outcomes.

Iron is essential for many physiological functions of the body, and it is required for normal growth and development. Iron deficiency (ID) is the most common form of micronutrient malnutrition and is particularly prevalent in infants and young children in developing countries. Iron supplementation is considered the most effective strategy to combat the risk of ID and ID anaemia (IDA) in infants, although iron supplements cause a range of deleterious gut-related problems in malnourished children. The purpose of this review is to assess the available evidence on the effect of iron supplementation on the gut microbiota during childhood ID and to further assess whether prebiotics offer any benefits for iron supplementation. Prebiotics are well known to improve gut-microbial health in children, and recent reports indicate that prebiotics can mitigate the adverse gut-related effects of iron supplementation in children with ID and IDA. Thus, provision of prebiotics alongside iron supplements has the potential for an enhanced strategy for combatting ID and IDA among children in the developing world. However, further understanding is required before the benefit of such combined treatments of ID in nutritionally deprived children across populations can be fully confirmed. Such enhanced understanding is of high relevance in resource-poor countries where ID, poor sanitation and hygiene, alongside inadequate access to good drinking water and poor health systems, are serious public health concerns.

The gut microbiome produces short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which serve as a substantial energy source and provide a link between the microbiome and (cardiac) metabolism. It has been demonstrated that the composition of the microbiome is altered in patients with heart failure (HF), but whether circulating levels of SCFAs are altered in HF is unknown.

Serum concentrations of the SCFAs acetate, propionate, and butyrate were measured in 205 patients with HF and in 54 healthy controls, using isotope dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Of the patients with HF, 99 had HF with a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and 106 had HF with mildly-reduced or preserved ejection fraction (HFmrEF/HFpEF). Healthy controls were age and sex matched to the HFrEF patients. Serum concentrations of acetate and propionate were significantly lower in patients with HF than in healthy controls, whereas butyrate levels were higher in patients with HF. Analyses by HF type revealed that acetate and propionate levels were lower in both HFrEF and HFpEF/HFmrEF patients in comparison to healthy controls. However, butyrate levels were observed to be lower in patients with HFmrEF/HFpEF in comparison to healthy controls, while they were higher in patients with HFrEF.

In patients with HF, serum levels of acetate and propionate are lower across the HF spectrum, whereas serum butyrate levels are elevated in HFrEF, but lower in HFmrEF/HFpEF. These alterations in SCFA profiles suggest a microbiome-driven metabolic dysregulation, which appears to differ between HF subtypes.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal (GI) disorders worldwide. Defined as a disorder of gut-brain interaction, its pathophysiology is still not completely clear. Consequently, current treatments primarily target symptoms rather than addressing the cause of the condition. The gut microbiome is increasingly acknowledged as central to IBS pathophysiology and, thus, may have therapeutic potential. Several national treatment guidelines recommend increasing physical activity for IBS management.

This review summarises the evidence about the relationship between physical activity, IBS symptoms, and the gut microbiome, investigating the hypothesis that physical activity's therapeutic effects on IBS may be explained via modulation of the gut microbiome.

This review revealed that routine exercise was associated with a 15%-66% reduction in symptom severity and up to 41% enhanced QoL in IBS participants, and modulates the gut microbiome in healthy controls.

This review generates the hypothesis that routine physical activity may favorably alter gut microbiome composition in IBS to improve IBS symptomology. While a plausible hypothesis, research needs to confirm whether gut microbiome modulation is involved in physical activity associated IBS symptom relief.

Furthermore, the establishment of the most effective mode, duration, and intensity of physical activity for each sex and IBS-subtype is needed, with patient input during this process crucial to successfully translate science into practice.

3-hydroxybutyrate (3-HB), an essential endogenous metabolite, shows significant therapeutic potential in several disease contexts. However, its clinical application has been hampered by limitations, such as adverse effects on the gut microbiota. This study introduces a genetically engineered strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGGK) that integrates the benefits of 3-HB production with the probiotic properties of LGG. Using a murine colon cancer cachexia (CAC) model, LGGK supplementation significantly improved survival, reduced tumor progression, and alleviated muscle wasting. LGGK restored gut microbial diversity, increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria, and increased the production of short-chain fatty acids while reducing harmful microbial populations. In addition, LGGK supplementation demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects, effectively reducing elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines in serum and skeletal muscle. These findings highlight LGGK as a dual-action therapeutic approach that utilizes the metabolic benefits of 3-HB and the gut-modulating properties of LGG. This innovation offers a promising strategy for the treatment of CAC and potentially other metabolic and inflammatory disorders, and highlights the potential of engineered probiotics in advanced therapeutic applications.

Despite a decrease in the incidence of dental caries over the past four decades, it remains a widespread public health concern. The multifactorial etiology of dental caries complicates effective prevention and early intervention efforts, underscoring the need for the development of rapid predictive methods that account for multiple factors. In this study, we selected the activity of urease secreted by Streptococcus salivarius as a metabolic marker for dental caries. This activity was quantified by measuring the diffusion of hydroxide ions generated from the urease catalytic reaction on urea across a ZIF-8-modified nanoporous membrane. The choice of ZIF-8 was based on its preference in transporting hydroxide ions, enabling the accurate detection of urease activity at concentrations as low as 1 CFU/mL. Subsequently, we collected 287 saliva samples to determine the Michaelis constant (Km) of urease using this method. Logistic regression analysis revealed that both the Km of urease and the frequency of sugar intake are significant factors influencing the development of dental caries. Furthermore, we developed a machine learning methodology for identifying dental caries, achieving an accuracy rate of 81%. It is expected that increasing the sample size will further enhance the predictive accuracy of the model. This innovative approach provides valuable insights into early intervention strategies in the fight against dental caries.

Expanding and aging populations, sustainability drivers and changing attitudes to the way we eat mean that there has been growing interest in non-animal derived protein food sources. Given this shift, there has been an uprise in consumer demand and commercial innovation of meat analogues and alternative protein food sources. The question, with a focus on fungal proteins, is where to best place them within Food-based Dietary Guidelines? A Nutrition Society Member-Led meeting was convened as a roundtable on 12th February 2024 to gather views on whether there is a specific role for fungal protein within Food-based Dietary Guidelines and how this role is best communicated. The intention of the roundtable was to establish areas of consensus or any disparities, and pinpoint future research directions. The roundtable format included three contextual presentations followed by discussions around seven core statements. A group of 11 experts from academia, policymaking and industry participated. There was agreement that health and sustainability research had advanced (for mycoprotein in particular). Subsequently, there is no reason to exclude fungal-derived proteins from Food-based Dietary Guidelines. The panel agreed on the need for an updated database on mycoprotein intakes in different countries along with long-term population studies comparing fungal, plant and meat sources against health and sustainability outcomes. The consensus was that fungal-derived mycoprotein could be represented within Food-based Dietary Guidelines, within a 'non-animal/non-meat' or 'other protein' sector, or as part of a generic protein diversification message.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most frequent cancer worldwide. Despite advances in treatment, conventional chemotherapy suffers from severe side effects and limited drug selectivity, highlighting the importance of alternative therapies. In this study, a polymer-lipid hybrid microcarrier was developed for oral co-administration of paclitaxel (PTX) and tributyrin (TB) as a novel approach for CRC therapy. The microcarrier was designed with a pH-sensitive polymeric shell that encapsulates drug-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC); shell dissolution at intestinal pH enables localized release of the NLC. The methodological approach employed an emulsion of vegetable oil and NLC as a template for polymer deposition. Multiple parameters were optimized, including polymers ratios, NLC dilution, acid concentration, and sonication time. Spherical hybrid particles with smooth surface and mean size of 1000 nm were obtained; PTX encapsulation efficiency was 99.9 ± 0.2 %, with a production yield of 97.2 ± 0.08 %. Drug release followed the Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetic model. Cytotoxic evaluation in human colorectal adenocarcinoma HCT-116 monolayers showed that PTX encapsulation increased cytotoxicity, lowering IC50 to 83.7 nM compared to 199.5 nM for free PTX. The addition of TB further improved cytotoxicity, reducing the IC50 to 60.8 nM. A similar potentiation cytotoxicity was observed in spheroids. The microcarrier induced reductions in colony formation, alterations in cell cytoskeleton, and led to a significant reduction in P-glycoprotein expression compared to its free form, suggesting its potential to help to overcome drug resistance. These results point to the promising applicability of the hybrid microcarrier as an innovative delivery system for oral administration of cytotoxic agents.

Developing oral drug delivery systems is promising for ulcerative colitis (UC). However, the key challenges, including formulation degradation under harsh gastric conditions, poor targeting efficiency, and limited colonic residence, lead to poor therapeutic efficacy that still needs to be tackled. Effective treatment requires a safe, efficacious, enzyme- and pH-responsive, biomucoadhesive oral drug delivery system to overcome these challenges. Therefore, we have developed chitosan-armored 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol (DMPG) nanoliposomes amalgamated with synthesized beta-sitosterol-sinapic acid (Be-S) conjugate, further encapsulated with 3,4-methylenedioxy-β-nitrostyrene (MNS) as NLRP3 inhibitor, termed C@MN@DMBe-S, to overcome the limitation of free MNS and sinapic acid. Formulated by the thin-film hydration method and processed through extrusion, these unilamellar liposomes demonstrated structural stability and mucoadhesive properties due to chitosan coating. This configuration protected the nanoliposomes from the gastric acidic environment and allowed retention in the inflamed colon for 48 h. The enzyme-responsive C@MN@DMBe-S nanoliposome releases sinapic acid at the inflamed colonic site via esterase activity, providing sustained and controlled release of MNS. This synergistic action delivers antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects while influencing the gut microbiota composition by releasing short-chain fatty acids. Moreover, therapeutic investigations revealed that C@MN@DMBe-S exhibited superior efficacy compared with free MNS when administered orally. The formulation effectively downregulated NF-κB, NLRP3, Caspase-1, and IL-1β expression while upregulating MUC5AC expression, indicating enhanced anti-inflammatory and protective effects and thereby promoting mucosal healing. In addition, C@MN@DMBe-S was found to regulate immune cell expression and effectively downregulate neutrophil infiltration. This armor- and enzyme-responsive strategy elucidates the impact of oral nanomedicines on mitigating UC and is demonstrated as an effective treatment.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex disorder characterized by persistent fatigue and cognitive impairments, with emerging evidence highlighting the role of gut health in its pathophysiology. The main objective of this review was to synthesize qualitative and quantitative data from research examining the gut microbiota composition, inflammatory markers, and therapeutic outcomes of interventions targeting the microbiome in the context of ME/CFS.

The data collection involved a detailed search of peer-reviewed English literature from January 1995 to January 2025, focusing on studies related to the microbiome and ME/CFS. This comprehensive search utilized databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, with keywords including "ME/CFS," "Gut-Brain Axis," "Gut Health," "Intestinal Dysbiosis," "Microbiome Dysbiosis," "Pathophysiology," and "Therapeutic Approaches." Where possible, insights from clinical trials and observational studies were included to enrich the findings. A narrative synthesis method was also employed to effectively organize and present these findings.

The study found notable changes in the gut microbiota diversity and composition in ME/CFS patients, contributing to systemic inflammation and worsening cognitive and physical impairments. As a result, various microbiome interventions like probiotics, prebiotics, specific diets, supplements, fecal microbiota transplantation, pharmacological interventions, improved sleep, and moderate exercise training are potential therapeutic strategies that merit further exploration.

Interventions focusing on the gut-brain axis may help reduce neuropsychiatric symptoms in ME/CFS by utilizing the benefits of the microbiome. Therefore, identifying beneficial microbiome elements and incorporating their assessments into clinical practice can enhance patient care through personalized treatments. Due to the complexity of ME/CFS, which involves genetic, environmental, and microbial factors, a multidisciplinary approach is also necessary. Since current research lacks comprehensive insights into how gut health might aid ME/CFS treatment, standardized diagnostics and longitudinal studies could foster innovative therapies, potentially improving quality of life and symptom management for those affected.

This study aimed to investigate the levels of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (F. prausnitzii) and Eubacterium rectale (E. rectale) in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and evaluate the impact of dietary intervention on these bacterial populations.

An interventional study was conducted with 38 NAFLD patients recruited from the Marmara University Gastroenterology Institute. Participants were divided into two groups: a diet intervention group (n = 21) and a control group (n = 17). The dietary intervention consisted of a balanced diet containing 50-55 % carbohydrates, 30-35 % fats, and 15-20 % protein. Fecal samples were collected at baseline and after six weeks for both groups, and bacterial quantification was performed via deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) analysis of the fecal samples.

In the diet intervention group, a significant increase in E. rectale abundance was observed after six weeks (p = 0.008). Additionally, intakes of dietary fiber, vitamin E, vitamin C, and thiamine were significantly higher in the intervention group compared to the control group by the end of the study (p < 0.05). However, no significant changes were detected in F. prausnitzii levels in either group.

The findings demonstrate that dietary intervention can significantly increase E. rectale abundance in NAFLD patients, while F. prausnitzii levels remain unaffected. These results highlight the selective influence of dietary modifications on gut bacterial populations, offering potential implications for the management of NAFLD.

Under human care, felids are typically fed similar diets, unlike wild counterparts whose diets vary by body mass and ecology. This study evaluated fecal microbiota and fermentation products in 18 zoo felids from Pairi Daiza Zoo, Belgium, grouped by body mass: under 100 kg ("small") and over 100 kg ("large"), with 9 animals in each group. Fresh feces were collected from the rectum under anesthesia. Microbial composition was assessed via 16S rRNA gene sequencing, while the fecal volatile fatty acids were quantified using gas chromatography. At the phylum level, regardless of body mass, the gut microbiota of zoo felids was predominantly composed of Firmicutes (61.7%), Actinobacteria (16.4%) and Bacteroidetes (12.5%). At the genus level, the most abundant genus was Clostridium sensu stricto 1 (15.9%), followed by Collinsella (15.7%). Although no significant differences in microbial composition or alpha diversity were found, beta diversity showed body mass influenced overall microbial structure. Smaller felids had significantly higher acetate levels than larger felids (p < 0.01). Additionally, acetate proportions were positively correlated with Clostridium sensu stricto 13 (r = 0.6, p < 0.01) and Peptoniphilus (r = 0.5, p < 0.05). These results show particular associations between body mass and the response of the intestinal microbiome to diet, suggesting that a uniform diet may not suit all felids under human care.

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), produced by dietary fiber fermentation in the colon, play essential roles in cellular metabolism, with butyrate notably modulating immune responses and epigenetic regulation. Their production contributes to an acidic colonic environment where protonated SCFAs permeate membranes, leading to intracellular acidification and SCFA accumulation. Using our method to measure intracellular pH, we investigated how extracellular pH influences butyrate-induced acidification and immunomodulatory effects in human macrophages. Our data show that butyrate accumulates and acidifies cells at acidic extracellular pH due to the permeability of its protonated form. While inflammatory cytokine production was mildly influenced by extracellular pH, butyrate-induced histone acetylation exhibited a pH dependence, underscoring the importance of considering extracellular pH when assessing the SCFA's functions.

The ratio of the fecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) to lactic acid concentrations (APB-L ratio) is a useful indicator for the healthiness of the intestinal microenvironment. A recent study indicated that the low APB-L ratio can be a predictor of postoperative infectious complications (POICs) in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy. However, the predictive power of the APB-L ratio in other highly invasive surgeries, such as esophagectomy, is still unclear. This study investigated whether the APB-L ratio can be a sensitive predictor of POICs in patients undergoing esohpagectomy.

A total of 129 patients undergoing esohpagectomy with gastric conduit reconstruction were included in this study. Preoperative fecal samples were analyzed for SCFA and lactic acid concentrations. The associations between clinical characteristics, POICs, and the APB-L ratio were analyzed. Preoperative and intraoperative risk factors for POICs were explored via multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Postoperative infectious complications were observed in 34 patients (26%), including surgical site infections in 18 patients (14%). A low APB-L ratio was significantly associated with higher POICs and surgical site infections risk (both p < 0.05). A low APB-L ratio was identified as an independent risk factor for POICs, with an odds ratio of 3.62 (95% confidence interval, 1.44-9.10, p = 0.006).

The APB-L ratio measured with preoperative fecal organic acid concentrations is useful to assess the risk of POICs for esohpagectomy. The results also imply the importance of maintaining a healthy intestinal metabolism (thus high APB-L ratio) to reduce POICs before highly invasive surgery.

The gut microbiome plays a critical role in modulating host metabolism, influencing energy production, nutrient utilization, and overall physiological adaptation. In athletes, these microbial functions may be further specialized to meet the unique metabolic demands of different sports disciplines. This study explored the role of the gut microbiome in modulating host metabolism among Colombian athletes by comparing elite weightlifters (n = 16) and cyclists (n = 13) through integrative omics analysis. Fecal and plasma samples collected one month before an international event underwent metagenomic, metabolomic, and lipidomic profiling. Metagenomic analysis revealed significant microbial pathways, including L-arginine biosynthesis III and fatty acid biosynthesis initiation. Key metabolic pathways, such as phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis; arginine biosynthesis; and folate biosynthesis, were enriched in both athlete groups. Plasma metabolomics and lipidomics revealed distinct metabolic profiles and a separation between athlete types through multivariate models, with lipid-related pathways such as lipid droplet formation and glycolipid synthesis driving the differences. Notably, elevated carnitine, amino acid, and glycerolipid levels in weightlifters suggest energy system-specific metabolic adaptations. These findings underscore the complex relationship between the gut microbiota composition and metabolic responses tailored to athletic demands, laying the groundwork for personalized strategies to optimize performance. This research highlights the potential for targeted modulation of the gut microbiota as a basis for tailored interventions to support specific energy demands in athletic disciplines.

Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) can severely impact fetal development, including alterations to the developing immune system. Immune perturbations, in tandem with gut dysbiosis, have been linked to brain and behavioral dysfunction, but this relationship is poorly understood in the context of PAE. This study takes an ontogenetic approach to evaluate PAE-induced alterations to brain and serum cytokine levels and both the composition and metabolic output of the gut microbiota. Using a well-established rat model of PAE, cytokine levels in the serum, prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hypothalamus as well as gut microbiota composition and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels were assessed at three postnatal (P) timepoints: P8 (infancy), P22 (weaning), and P38 (adolescence). Male PAE rats had increased cytokine levels in the amygdala and hypothalamus, but not prefrontal cortex, at P8. This altered neuroimmune function was not seen in the PAE females. The effect of PAE on central cytokine levels was reduced at P22/38, the same age at which PAE-induced alterations in serum cytokine levels emerge in both sexes. PAE reduced bacterial diversity in both sexes at P8, but only in females at P38, where a PAE-induced unique community composition emerged. Both sexes had alterations to specific bacterial taxa (e.g., Firmicutes), some of which are important in producing the SCFA butyric acid, which was decreased in PAE animals at P22. These results demonstrate that PAE leads to sex- and age-specific alterations in immune function, gut microbiota and SCFA production, highlighting the need to consider both age and sex in future work.

The beneficial effects of dietary fiber for colon health may be due to short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as butyrate, produced by colonic bacterial fermentation. In contrast, obesogenic diet induced obesity is linked to increased colon cancer incidence. We hypothesize that increasing fiber intake promotes healthy microbiome and reduces bacterial dysbiosis and oncogenic signaling in the colon of mice fed an obesogenic diet. About 5-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were assigned to 5 dietary groups (n=22/group) for 24 weeks:(1) AIN93G as a control diet (AIN); (2) a high fat diet (HFD, 45% energy fat); (3) HFD+5% resistant starch enriched dietary fiber (RSF) from maize; (4) HFD+10%RSF; or (5) HFD+20%RSF. Compared to the AIN group, mice receiving the HFD exhibited more than 15% increase in body mass and body fat composition irrespective of RSF dosage. However, the HFD+RSF groups exhibited an increase (>300%) of fecal butyrate but a decrease (>45%) of secondary bile acids in a RSF dose-dependent manner over the HFD group. Similarly, there were concomitant decreases (>25%) in pro-inflammatory plasma cytokines (TNFα, IL-6 and MCP-1), β-catenin and Ki67 protein staining in the colon of the HFD+20%RSF group relative to the HFD group. Furthermore, the abundance of colonic Proteobacteria, signatures of dysbiosis, was decreased (>63%) in a RSF dose-dependent manner compared to the HFD. Collectively, these data indicate that RSF not only increases butyrate but also reduces secondary bile acids, bacterial dysbiosis and β-catenin in the colon of mice fed a HFD.

Gut microbiota composition has been implicated in surgical site complications after colorectal cancer surgery. Antibiotics affect gut microbiota, but evidence for a role in surgical site complications is inconclusive. We aimed to investigate use of prescription antibiotics during the years before surgery in relation to the risk of surgical site infections, including anastomotic leakage, within 30 days after surgery. Cardiovascular/neurological complications and the urinary antiseptic methenamine hippurate, for which there is no clear link with the microbiota, were used as negative controls. We conducted a patient cohort study using complete population data from Swedish national registers between 2005 and 2020. The final study population comprised 26,527 colon cancer and 12,312 rectal cancer cases with a 4.5 year exposure window. In colon cancer patients, antibiotics use was associated with a higher risk of surgical site infections (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for any versus no use = 1.20, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10-1.33) and anastomotic leakage in particular (aOR =1.19, 95% CI 1.03-1.36), both with dose-response relationships for increasing cumulative antibiotics use (Ptrend = <0.001 and Ptrend = 0.047, respectively). Conversely, associations in rectal cancer patients, as well as for the negative controls cardiovascular/neurological complications and methenamine hippurate, were null. In conclusion, prescription antibiotics use up to 4.5 years before colorectal cancer surgery is associated with a higher risk of surgical site infections, including anastomotic leakage, after colon cancer but not rectal cancer surgery. These findings support a role for antibiotics-induced intestinal dysbiosis in surgical site infections.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is driven by a complex interplay of genetic, lifestyle, and dietary factors, leading to weight gain, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and chronic inflammation. Gut microbiota dysbiosis has been recently recognized as a key contributor to MetS, leading to advancements in gut microbiome-based interventions to improve health outcomes. Considering the unique challenges associated with the use of pre/probiotics, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), also known as postbiotics, have emerged as promising therapeutic agents due to their role in modulating host metabolism and physiology. Considering this, the aim of the current study was to explore the therapeutic potential of SCFA (butyrate, propionate, and acetate) supplementation against a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced experimental model of MetS in male Wistar rats. Alterations in body weight, lipid profile, histopathology, and adipose tissue accumulation were assessed to establish SCFA-mediated amelioration of experimental MetS. Further, the enzymatic (GPx, Catalase, GR, and GST) and non-enzymatic (LPO, total ROS, and Redox ratio were evaluated. The results indicated that SCFA supplementation could effectively mitigate key features of MetS. A significant reduction in body weight gain and fasting blood glucose levels, along with markedly lowered triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL levels, with partial restoration of HDL levels was observed following SCFA supplementation. SCFA administration also attenuated MetS-associated hepatic damage as studied by histopathological investigation and analysis of liver function marker enzyme activities. Such ameliorative effects of SCFA against HFD-induced MetS were owed to potential redox modulation studied using enzymatic and non-enzymatic oxidative stress markers. In conclusion, the study's outcomes show that SCFA supplementation could potentially be used against managing MetS. It underscores the therapeutic potential of SCFA by placing them as a novel gut microbiome-based dietary approach to improve metabolic health and reduce the risk of MetS-associated complications. However, more detailed mechanistic explorations are warranted in the future, leading to their beneficial role in MetS contributing to holistic health outcomes.

A stable gut microbiota promotes a healthy gut and enhances immune function, antioxidant status, and metabolic activities in chickens. The present research work aimed to investigate the modulatory impacts of in ovo delivery of prebiotic and probiotic on oxidative stress, the intestinal transcriptome, and various plasma metabolites in chickens. Fertilized Ross 308 eggs were administered in ovo either with galactooligosaccharide (GOS) (3.5 mg/egg or Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP) 1 × 106/egg on the 12th day of egg incubation. Three hundred viable Ross 308 broiler hatching eggs in total were randomly assigned to four groups, namely, the negative control not injected group, the group receiving physiological saline injections as the positive control, GOS, and LP. The analysis of genes associated with immune functions, antioxidants, barrier functions, and free fatty acid receptors were determined via qPCR. The analysis of the selected plasma blood metabolites was performed automatically with Pentra C 400. The antioxidant capacity of the chickens' liver, breast muscle, and spleen was enhanced by the in ovo injection of GOS and LP. The immune-related gene expression levels were upregulated after in ovo stimulation with either GOS or LP which improved the gut health of broiler chickens. In addition, several genes related to gut barrier functions were upregulated, thus ensuring epithelial integrity. As for blood plasma metabolites, no adverse effects were observed. In summary, we report that in ovo stimulation with either GOS or LP stimulates the immune system and improves the antioxidant status and gut health of chickens with no negative impact on plasma blood metabolite indices.

The gut microbiome is now understood to play essential roles in host nutrition and health and has become a dominant research focus in primatology. Over the past decade, research has clarified the evolutionary traits that govern gut microbiome structure across species and the ecological traits that further influence consortia within them. Nevertheless, we stand to gain resolution by sampling hosts in understudied habitats. We focus on the lemurs of Madagascar's central highlands. Madagascar's highlands have a deep history as heterogeneous grassland-forest mosaics, but due to significant anthropogenic modification, have long been overlooked as lemur habitat. We collected fecal samples from Verreaux's sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi), common brown lemurs (Eulemur fulvus), and Goodman's mouse lemurs (Microcebus lehilahytsara) inhabiting two protected areas in the highlands and used amplicon sequencing to determine gut microbiome diversity and membership. As expected, the lemurs harbored distinct gut consortia tuned to their feeding strategies. Mouse lemurs harbored abundant Bifidobacterium and Alloprevotella that are implicated in gum metabolism, sifakas harbored abundant Lachnospiraceae that are implicated in leaf-fiber metabolism, and brown lemurs harbored diverse consortia with abundant WCBH1-41 that could be associated with frugivory in harsh seasons and habitats. Within brown lemurs, a suite of bacteria varied between seed-packed and leaf-packed feces, a proxy for dietary intakes, collected from the same group over days. Our results underscore the evolutionary and ecological factors that govern primate gut microbiomes. More broadly, we showcase the forests of Madagascar's central highlands as rich habitat for future research of lemur ecology and evolution.

The interaction between gut microbiota and its metabolites is a growing area of research. Therefore, this study analyzed the bioactive compound profile of the indigestible fraction (IF) from Psidium species and evaluated its effects on microbiota composition during in vitro colonic fermentation. Hydroxycinnamic acids, hydroxybenzoic acids, and ellagitannins were the predominant phenolic compounds, with P. friedrichsthalianum ('Cas') exhibiting the highest concentrations. During in vitro colonic fermentation, a reduction in bacterial genera such as Enterobacteriaceae and Klebsiella was observed, while Faecalibacterium, Oscillibacter, Dialister, and Ruminococcaceae positively correlated with phenolic microbial metabolites. These findings suggest that the IF of Psidium species modulates gut microbiota composition and potentially contributes to the production of beneficial metabolites during human colonic fermentation, reinforcing the role of whole fruit consumption as a comprehensive matrix of nutrients and bioactive compounds beneficial to gut health.

Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is a primary glomerular disease characterized by the deposition of IgA. The pathogenesis of it is related to the dysbiosis of gut microbiota. Dysbiosis of gut microbiota influences mucosal immune response and systemic immune system, leading to glycosylation-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1) increasing, which promotes the development of IgAN. Diet plays an important role in regulating gut microbiota and treating IgAN. In this review, we summarize the interplay between gut microbiota and IgAN, and their underlying mechanisms. We also describe the effects of dietary intake on IgAN, as well as the composition of gut microbiota. The progress on IgAN treatment mainly focuses on inhibiting or regulating the immune system. Moreover, therapeutic strategies related to gut microbiota such as dietary intervention, supplement of probiotics and prebiotics, as well as fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) have shown the possibility of improving IgAN prognosis. Thus, exploration of the gut-kidney axis, the long-term effects of diet and microbiome is necessary to develop more effective treatment strategies.

Some studies have associated dairy consumption with a lower risk of obesity. However, these studies are concentrated in developed countries with high dairy consumption. In developing countries, the evidence is scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the association between the consumption of different types of dairy products and obesity in Chilean adults.

A cross-sectional study, stratified by sex and age, was carried out using a validated online survey to assess the consumption of dairy products among adults living in Chile. Dairy product consumption was then classified into tertiles. Obesity was determined based on self-reported body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between dairy consumption and obesity, adjusting for several confounding variables.

In total, 2008 participants were included in the analyses. Forty-seven percent, 39% and 14% belonged to the <35 years, 35-60 years, and ≥60-year groups, respectively. 55% were female, 86% had a low-medium socioeconomic level. Cow-derived cheese, milk, and yogurt were the most commonly consumed dairy products. Obese participants had a lower total consumption of dairy products (17.1%) than normal-weight subjects (25.7%, p<0.05). Higher cheese intake was significantly associated with a lower obesity risk (ORadj: 0.70; 95%CI 0.51-0.96, p<0.05). Other types of dairy products and total consumption of dairy products were not significantly associated.

Habitual cheese consumption, but not other dairy products, was associated with a lower risk of obesity in this sample of Chilean adults.

The human body functions as a complex ecosystem, hosting trillions of microbes that collectively form the microbiome, pivotal in immune system regulation. The host-microbe immunological axis maintains homeostasis and influences key physiological processes, including metabolism, epithelial integrity, and neural function. Recent advancements in microbiome-based therapeutics, including probiotics, prebiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation, offer promising strategies for immune modulation. Microbial therapies leveraging microbial metabolites and engineered bacterial consortia are emerging as novel therapeutic strategies. However, significant challenges remain, including individual microbiome variability, the complexity of host-microbe interactions, and the need for precise mechanistic insights. This review comprehensively examines the host microbiota immunological interactions, elucidating its mechanisms, therapeutic potential, and the future directions of microbiome-based immunomodulation in human health. It will also critically evaluate challenges, limitations, and future directions for microbiome-based precision medicine.

Sarcopenia, an age-related disorder marked by decreased skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function, is associated with negative health impacts in individuals and financial burdens on families and society. Studies have suggested that age-related alterations in gut microbiota may contribute to the development of sarcopenia in older people through the gut-muscle axis, thus modulation of gut microbiota may be a promising approach for sarcopenia treatment. However, the characteristic gut microbiota for sarcopenia has not been consistent across studies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the diversity and compositional differences in the gut microbiota of older people with and without sarcopenia, and to identify gut microbiota biomarkers with therapeutic potential for sarcopenia.

The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Database were searched studies about the gut microbiota characteristics in older people with sarcopenia. The quality of included articles was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Weighted standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for α-diversity index were estimated using a random effects model. Qualitative synthesis was conducted for β-diversity and the correlation between gut microbiota and muscle parameters. The relative abundance of the gut microbiota was analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively, respectively.

Pooled estimates showed that α-diversity was significantly lower in older people with sarcopenia (SMD: -0.41, 95% CI: -0.57 to -0.26, I²: 71%, P < 0.00001). The findings of β-diversity varied across included studies. In addition, our study identified gut microbiota showing a potential and negative correlation with sarcopenia, such as Prevotella, Slackia, Agathobacter, Alloprevotella, Prevotella copri, Prevotellaceae sp., Bacteroides coprophilus, Mitsuokella multacida, Bacteroides massiliensis, Bacteroides coprocola Conversely, a potential and positive correlation was observed with opportunistic pathogens like Escherichia-Shigella, Eggerthella, Eggerthella lenta and Collinsella aerofaciens.

This study showed that α-diversity is decreased in sarcopenia, probably predominantly due to diminished richness rather than evenness. In addition, although findings of β-diversity varied across included studies, the overall trend toward a decrease in SCFAs-producing bacteria and an increase in conditionally pathogenic bacteria. This study provides new ideas for targeting the gut microbiota for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia.

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024573090, identifier CRD42024573090.

To investigate the therapeutic and gut microbiota-modulating effects of Qingreliangxuefang (QRLXF) on psoriasis.

We used network pharmacology, a computational approach, to identify key bioactive compounds and biological targets, and explored the molecular mechanisms of QRLXF. The effects of QRLXF on keratinocyte proliferation and inflammation were evaluated using a mouse model of psoriasis. Changes in the gut microbiota were analyzed via 16SrDNA sequencing, and T cell subsets were assessed using flow cytometry.

Network pharmacology analysis suggested that QRLXF ameliorated psoriasis by modulating Th17 cell differentiation. Further experiments confirmed the anti-inflammatory effects and relief of psoriatic lesions in IMQ-induced mice. 16SrDNA sequencing revealed significant shifts in the gut microbiota, notably increases in Ligilactobacillus and Lactobacillus genera and decreases in Anaerotruncus, Negativibacillus, Bilophila, and Mucispirillum, suggesting a potential relationship between specific microbiota changes and Th17 cell differentiation.

QRLXF alleviated psoriatic dermatitis by regulating Th17 cell responses and modifying gut microbiota profiles, highlighting its therapeutic potential for psoriasis treatment.

Pyracantha fortuneana, an underutilized wild plant, has been found to have a high nutritional value. This study used simulated digestion and fecal fermentation models to investigate the digestive properties of the purified acidic pectin polysaccharide of Pyracantha fortuneana and its impact on the gut microbiota and metabolites. Pyracantha fortuneana polysaccharide (PFP) is mainly composed of rhamnose (Rha), galacturonic acid (GalA), glucose (Glc), galactose (Gal), and arabinose (Ara), with a molecular weight (Mw) of 851.25 kDa. Following simulated digestion, the Mw of PFP remained consistent. The reduced sugar content showed minimal change, suggesting that PFP exhibits resistance to gastrointestinal digestion and can effectively reach the colon. Following fecal fermentation, the molecular weight, monosaccharide, and carbohydrate contents of PFP decreased, while the short-chain fatty acid content increased. This suggests that PFP is susceptible to degradation by microorganisms and can be metabolized into acetic acid and n-butyric acid, contributing to the regulation of intestinal health. Meanwhile, PFP promotes the reproduction of beneficial bacteria such as Bacteroides, Dialister, and Dysgonomonas, inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria like Proteus, and generates metabolites such as thiamine, leonuriside A, oxoadipic acid, S-hydroxymethylglutathione, and isonicotinic acid, which exert beneficial effects on human health. These results indicate that PFP has great potential in regulating the gut microbiota and generating beneficial metabolites to promote intestinal functional health and can be used as a prebiotic to prevent diseases by improving intestinal health.