Fermented beetroot modulates gut microbial carbohydrate metabolism in prediabetes and prevents high-fat diet induced hyperglycemia in a prediabetic model.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether a fermented beetroot product (PN39) could improve glucose tolerance and modulate gut microbiota in prediabetic mice and humans, potentially preventing diabetes.
Results Summary
PN39 prevented glucose tolerance impairment in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) when administered concurrently, but did not improve fasting blood glucose or glucose tolerance in prediabetic mice when administered after HFD-induced prediabetes. PN39 also increased beneficial gut bacteria (Clostridia UCG-014 and Lactobacilli) and short-chain fatty acid production in both mice and humans, while correcting altered microbial carbohydrate metabolism. Limitations include the lack of human glucose tolerance data and unclear translation of mouse results to humans.
Population
C57BL/6J male mice and prediabetic human subjects (specific demographics not detailed).
Effective Dosage
Not specified.
Duration
9 weeks for concurrent HFD+PN39 in mice; 4 weeks of PN39 after 5 weeks of HFD in prediabetic mice; human intervention duration not specified.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PN39 | decrease | glucose tolerance impairment | C57BL/6J male mice | - | prevented | #1 |
PN39 | no change | fasting blood glucose | PD mice | - | neither improved | #2 |
PN39 | no change | glucose tolerance | PD mice | - | neither improved | #3 |
high-fat diet (HFD) | increase | hyperglycemia | C57BL/6J male mice | - | resulted in | #4 |
high-fat diet (HFD) | decrease | impaired glucose tolerance | C57BL/6J male mice | - | resulted in | #5 |
PN39 | increase | Clostridia UCG-014 | mice fed with HFD | - | preserved | #6 |
PN39 | increase | Lactobacilli | mice fed with HFD | - | preserved | #7 |
PN39 | increase | short chain fatty acid production | mice fed with HFD | - | increased | #8 |
PN39 | increase | Clostridia UCG-014 populations | PD subjects | - | increased | #9 |
PN39 | increase | Lactobacilli populations | PD subjects | - | increased | #10 |
PN39 | increase | short chain fatty acids concentrations | PD subjects | - | increased | #11 |
PN39 | increase | altered microbial carbohydrate metabolism | mice | - | rectified | #12 |
PN39 | increase | altered microbial carbohydrate metabolism | humans | - | rectified | #13 |
PN39 | decrease | PD | mice receiving PN39+HFD | - | played a role in preventing | #14 |
The global increase in prevalence of (pre-)diabetes demands immediate intervention strategies. In our earlier work, we demonstrated in vitro antidiabetic potential of a fermented beetroot product (PN39). Here, we examined the impact of PN39 on glucose tolerance and gut microbiota in C57BL/6J male mice and on prediabetic (PD) subjects' stool microbiota. In mice, high-fat diet (HFD) consumption for 9 weeks resulted in hyperglycemia and impaired glucose tolerance (GT) while concomitant consumption of PN39 and HFD (PN39+HFD) prevented GT impairment. Meanwhile, feeding the mice with HFD for 5 weeks to induce PD and later administering them with PN39 for 4 weeks (PD + PN39) neither improved fasting blood glucose nor GT. Relative to control groups, the gut microbiota of both PD mice and humans were characterized by decreased Clostridia UCG-014 and Lactobacilli as well as significantly altered gut microbial carbohydrate metabolism. Feeding PN39 together with HFD preserved Clostridia UCG-014 and Lactobacilli, increased short chain fatty acid production relative to mice fed with HFD only. Treating gut microbiota of PD subjects with PN39 however increased Clostridia UCG-014 and Lactobacilli populations and increased short chain fatty acids concentrations in the stools. In both mice and humans, PN39 treatment rectified the altered microbial carbohydrate metabolism observed in their PD counterparts. This suggests that the gut microbial modulatory effects of PN39 coupled with its capacity to regulate gut microbial glucose metabolism, likely played a role in preventing PD in mice receiving PN39+HFD. Taken together, our results indicate that PN39 could act as a potent antidiabetic functional food for preventing diabetes and its associated dysbiosis.