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Fermented beetroot modulates gut microbial carbohydrate metabolism in prediabetes and prevents high-fat diet induced hyperglycemia in a prediabetic model.

Current research in food science
May 5, 2025
Eric Banan-Mwine Daliri et al. (10 authors)
Journal ArticleHuman StudyAnimal Study
Study Details

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.

Extracted Claims (14)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
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
Abstract

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.

Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy80/10
Quality70/10
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.05
Weight Score1.20
Normalized Score0.66
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