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An In Vitro Batch-culture Model to Estimate the Effects of Interventional Regimens on Human Fecal Microbiota
Published on: July 31, 2019
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Dietary green-plant thylakoids decrease gastric emptying and gut transit, promote changes in the gut microbial flora,
Eva-Lena Stenblom1, Björn Weström2, Caroline Linninge3
1Department of Experimental Medical Science, Appetite Regulation Unit, BMC B11, Lund University, Sölvegatan 19, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden.
Nutrition & Metabolism
|October 26, 2016
Summary
Green-plant thylakoids enhance satiety and alter gut bacteria composition. This study found thylakoids reduced gastrointestinal passage in rats and increased beneficial bacteria in humans, suggesting a role in obesity management.
Area of Science:
- Plant biochemistry
- Gastroenterology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Green-plant thylakoids are known to increase satiety by influencing appetite hormones like ghrelin, cholecystokinin (CCK), and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).
- The impact of thylakoids on gastrointestinal (GI) passage and gut microbial composition requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of thylakoid supplementation on gastrointestinal passage in rats.
- To determine the impact of thylakoid supplementation on gut microbiota composition and fecal fat content in human volunteers.
Main Methods:
- Rats were administered thylakoid-supplemented or control diets, with GI passage assessed using Evans blue.
- Human volunteers (n=34) received thylakoid or placebo treatments for three months, with microbiota analyzed via 16S rRNA gene sequencing and qPCR, and fecal fat extracted.
Main Results:
- Thylakoid supplementation acutely reduced gastric emptying and intestinal transit in rats.
- In humans, thylakoid treatment increased total bacteria and the Bacteroides fragilis group without causing steatorrhea.
- No significant effects on GI passage were observed after a two-week diet in rats.
Conclusions:
- Thylakoids influence satiety through appetite hormones and GI fullness.
- Thylakoid supplementation modulates gut microbial composition without adverse GI effects like steatorrhea.
- Thylakoids show potential as a novel agent for obesity prevention and treatment.
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