Effect of a Chinese medical nutrition therapy diet on gut microbiota and short chain fatty acids in the simulator of the human intestinal microbial ecosystem (SHIME)

• Main Authors: Ruiyu Wu, Xin Tang, Xincong Kang, Yushuang Luo, Lei Wang, Jian Li, Xiyang Wu, Dongbo Liu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2019-11-01
• Series: Journal of Functional Foods
• Subjects: Whole grains; Traditional Chinese medicine dietary therapy; Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides; Chronic diseases intervention
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464619304797

Numerous microbiotas, which play important roles in health, inhabit the human gut. A traditional Chinese medicine dietary therapy (TCMDT) diet, consisted of whole grains and traditional Chinese medicines, is traditionally used to lessen hyperglycemia and reduce obesity. The Simulator of the human intestinal microbial ecosystem (SHIME) was used for studying the effect of the TCMDT diet on gut microbiota and short chain fatty acids. The TCMDT diet increased diabetes-improving microbiota (Coriobacteriaceae, Bacteroidaceae, and Peptostreptococcaceae) by 7–26 times and health-related microbiota (Rikenellaceae, Bifidobacteria, Actinobacteria) by 4–300 times. The short chain fatty acids-producers, Bacteroides and Parabacteroides were elevated after intervention. This diet significantly increased acetate (from 2.23 to 36.77 mmol/L), propionate (from 2.85 to 33.93 mmol/L), and butyrate (from 0.89 to 6.96 mmol/L), which are the major short chain fatty acids. Our study provides novel perspective into the role of gut microbiota modulation during TCMDT diet intervention.