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Dietary intake of yacon roots (Smallanthus sonchifolius) affects gut microbiota and fecal mucin and prevents intestinal inflammation in mice.

Journal of clinical biochemistry and nutrition
November 1, 2021
Yasuki Higashimura et al. (10 authors)
Journal ArticleAnimal Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to investigate the effects of a yacon-containing diet on the intestinal environment in mice, including microbial composition, short-chain fatty acid levels, mucus content, and its potential to inhibit intestinal inflammation.

Results Summary

The study found that yacon administration significantly increased concentrations of succinic, lactic, acetic, and propionic acids, elevated fecal mucin content, altered fecal microbiota profiles, and suppressed intestinal inflammation in a colitis model.

Population

Mice (animal study)

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

4 weeks

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (10)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
yacon-containing diet
increase
concentrations of succinic acid
mice
-
significantly higher
#1
yacon-containing diet
increase
concentrations of lactic acid
mice
-
significantly higher
#2
yacon-containing diet
increase
concentrations of acetic acid
mice
-
significantly higher
#3
yacon-containing diet
increase
concentrations of propionic acid
mice
-
significantly higher
#4
yacon-containing diet
increase
fecal mucin content
mice
-
higher
#5
yacon-containing diet
neutral
relative abundances of 27 taxa
mice
-
differed significantly
#6
yacon-containing diet
decrease
increased colonic damage after 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid treatment
mice
-
suppressed
#7
yacon-containing diet
decrease
myeloperoxidase activity after 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid treatment
mice
-
suppressed
#8
oral intake of yacon root
neutral
intestinal environment
-
-
modulates
#9
oral intake of yacon root
decrease
intestinal inflammation
-
-
inhibiting
#10
Abstract

Consumption of yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) is associated with beneficial effects such as prevention of metabolic diseases. Yacon root is known to contain various bioactive components including indigestible carbohydrates, but the alteration of intestinal environment after treatment with yacon has not been fully investigated. This study investigated yacon-containing diet effects on the intestinal environment in mice, including microbial composition, short-chain fatty acid levels, and mucus content. After mice were administered yacon-containing diet for 4 weeks, 16S rRNA gene sequencing analyses revealed their fecal microbiota profiles. Organic acid concentrations in cecal contents were measured using an HPLC system. Compared to the control group, yacon-containing diet-received mice had significantly higher the concentrations of succinic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, and propionic acid. The fecal mucin content was also higher in yacon-containing diet-received mice. Results of 16S rRNA gene sequencing analyses showed that the relative abundances of 27 taxa differed significantly in yacon-containing diet-received mice. Furthermore, results show effects of yacon administration on intestinal inflammation using 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid induced colitis model in mice. Increased colonic damage and myeloperoxidase activity after 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid treatment were suppressed in yacon-containing diet-received mice. Results suggest that oral intake of yacon root modulates the intestinal environment, thereby inhibiting intestinal inflammation.

Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality75/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations6
Citations/Year1.5
Relative Citation Ratio0.63
NIH Percentile33.8%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.05
Weight Score1.14
Normalized Score0.69
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