Abstract
Purpose
Whole plant foods can be fermentable by SCFA-producing bacteria and positively influence host adipose tissue development and obesity related-metabolic disorders, conferring a prebiotic role. Considering the juçara berry composition, rich in fiber and polyphenols, we hypothesized the probable prebiotic role of juçara in individuals with obesity.
Methods
It was a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial with 35 volunteers with obesity I and II of both sexes aged from 31 to 59 years, divided into juçara group (5 g lyophilized juçara) or placebo group (5 g of maltodextrin) for 6 weeks. Before and after supplementation, food intake and blood and stool samples were collected to evaluate serum LPS, SCFA, and microbial bacteria.
Results
Significant increase in fecal acetate (g = 0.809; p = 0.038) and in relative abundance of A. muciniphila, Bifidobacterium spp. and C. coccoides were observed in response to juçara supplementation (Δ% = 239.6%, 182.6%, and 214%, respectively), with a significant mediator role of Bifidobacterium spp. in high amounts of fecal acetate (z = 2.925; p = 0.003). To certify the prebiotic role of juçara, the averages were adjusted for total fiber intake; and there was no effect of the fiber intake on the SCFA nor on the intestinal bacteria.
Conclusion
Juçara berry may haveprebiotic function, with emphasis on the bifidogenic effect, leading to increased excretion of acetate.
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The authors thank Dylbert Fragoso Silvestre for the assistance in the English language.
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This work was supported by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES-Brazil) and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP #2016/14133-0). LPP and VVR are recipients of the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) fellowship.
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LPP and VVDR designed the study protocol; GJ, ABS, BPC, RW, and MBF conducted experiments and analyzed data. LPP and GJ critically revised the article for important intellectual content; LPP and GJ contributed to writing the manuscript.
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Jamar, G., Santamarina, A.B., Casagrande, B.P. et al. Prebiotic potencial of juçara berry on changes in gut bacteria and acetate of individuals with obesity. Eur J Nutr 59, 3767–3778 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-020-02208-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-020-02208-1