Dietary intake of yacon roots (Smallanthus sonchifolius) affects gut microbiota and fecal mucin and prevents intestinal inflammation in mice.
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
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
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.