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The hypocholesterolemic effect of soy is well-documented and this has led to the regulatory approval of a health claim relating soy protein to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, soybeans contain additional components, such as isoflavones, lecithins, saponins and fiber that may improve cardiovascular health through independent mechanisms. This review summarizes the evidence on the cardiovascular benefits of non-protein soy components in relation to known CVD risk factors such as hypertension, hyperglycemia, inflammation, and obesity beyond cholesterol lowering. Overall, the available evidence suggests non-protein soy constituents improve markers of cardiovascular health; however, additional carefully designed studies are required to independently elucidate these effects. Further, work is also needed to clarify the role of isoflavone-metabolizing phenotype and gut microbiota composition on biological effect.

Background Synthetic human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are used to supplement infant formula despite limited understanding of their impact on the post-weaned developing gut microbiota. Here, we assess the influence of 0.5 g/L 2-fucosyllactose (2’FL) and 4.0 g/L pooled HMOs (pHMOs) on the composition and activity of cultured fecal-derived microbial communities from seven healthy young children. Results Exposure to pHMOs induced significant shifts in both the microbial community composition and metabolic output, including an increased abundance of several genera, notably Bacteroides , and the production of health-associated metabolites. In contrast, 2’FL alone did not lead to substantial changes in the communities. A total of 330 bacterial isolates, spanning 157 species, were cultured from these communities and individually evaluated for their responses to HMOs. Over 100 non- Bifidobacterium species showed enhanced growth upon pHMOs treatment and a high degree of intraspecies variation in HMO metabolism was observed. Conclusion Our study provides valuable insight into the health-enhancing properties of HMOs while highlighting the need for future research into the efficacy of incorporating individual structures into infant formula, particularly when aiming to modulate the gut microbiota. DLoTGpXbSBXfYGWsHwkdt7 Video Abstract

The human microbiome may play a significant role in both health and disease. However, most studies to date have focused on the microbiome’s role in pathogenesis, while its potential role in promoting well-being remains underexplored. We conducted the first meta-analysis synthesizing empirical evidence on associations between the human microbiome and psychological well-being. Based on eight analyzed studies ( N  = 2526 participants), we found that both microbial diversity and taxonomic abundance were positively associated with psychological well-being, with diversity emerging as the stronger predictor. Notably, these associations appeared consistent across sex and age. This study provides preliminary evidence that microbiome composition may support salutogenic processes and offers a foundation for future integration of microbiome science into psychological and clinical interventions. However, given the small number of empirical studies included in the meta-analysis, the generalizability of these findings remains limited. Further research is required to strengthen and refine our understanding of the microbiome-well-being relationship.

Background The human gut microbiota is inoculated at birth and undergoes a process of assembly and diversification during the first few years of life. Studies in mice and humans have revealed associations between the early-life gut microbiome and future susceptibility to immune and metabolic diseases. To resolve microbe and host contributing factors to early-life development and to disease states requires experimental platforms that support reproducible, longitudinal, and high-content analyses. Results Here, we deployed a continuous single-stage chemostat culture model of the human distal gut to study gut microbiota from 18- to 24-month-old children integrating both culture-dependent and -independent methods. Chemostat cultures recapitulated multiple aspects of the fecal microbial ecosystem enabling investigation of relationships between bacterial strains and metabolic function, as well as a resource from which we isolated and curated a diverse library of early life bacterial strains. Conclusions We report the reproducible, longitudinal dynamics of early-life bacterial communities cultured in an advanced model of the human gut providing an experimental approach and a characterized bacterial resource to support future investigations of the human gut microbiota in early childhood.

The equine gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota is intimately related to the horse. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the microbiome and metabolome of cecal inoculum maintained in an anaerobic chamber or chemostat batch fermenter, as well as the fecal slurry maintained in an anaerobic chamber over 48 h. Cecal and fecal content were collected from healthy adult horses immediately upon death. Cecal fluid was used to inoculate chemostat vessels (chemostat cecal, n = 11) and vessels containing cecal fluid (anaerobic cecal, n = 15) or 5% fecal slurry (anaerobic fecal, n = 6) were maintained in an anaerobic chamber. Sampling for microbiome and metabolome analysis was performed at vessel establishment (0 h), and after 24 h and 48 h of fermentation. Illumina sequencing was performed, and metabolites were identified via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Alpha and beta diversity indices, as well as individual metabolite concentrations and metabolite regression equations, were analyzed and compared between groups and over time. No differences were evident between alpha or beta diversity in cecal fluid maintained in either an anaerobic chamber or chemostat. The microbiome of the fecal inoculum maintained anaerobically shifted over 48 h and was not comparable to that of the cecal inoculum. Metabolite concentrations were consistently highest in chemostat vessels and lowest in anaerobic fecal vessels. Interestingly, the rate of metabolite change in anaerobic cecal and chemostat cecal vessels was comparable. In conclusion, maintaining an equine cecal inoculum in either an anaerobic chamber or chemostat vessel for 48 h is comparable in terms of the microbiome. However, the microbiome and metabolome of fecal material is not comparable with a cecal inoculum. Future research is required to better understand the factors that influence the level of microbial activity in vitro, particularly when microbiome data identify analogous communities.

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are a set of complex carbohydrates and the third largest solid component of human milk, after lactose and lipids. To date, over 150 HMOs have been identified and the diversity of structures produced by lactating women is influenced by maternal genetics as well as other maternal, infant, and environmental factors. While the concentrations of individual HMOs have been shown to vary between individuals and throughout the course of lactation, the variability of HMO concentration profiles following different pregnancies occurring in the same woman is presently unknown. As such, the objective of this study was to compare HMO concentrations in human milk samples provided by the same women (n = 34) following repeat pregnancies. We leveraged existing human milk samples and metadata from the UC San Diego Human Milk Research Biorepository (HMB) and measured the concentrations of the 19 most abundant HMOs using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FL). By assessing dissimilarities in HMO concentration profiles, as well as concentration trends in individual structures between pregnancies of each participant, we discovered that HMO profiles largely follow a highly personalized and predictable trajectory following different pregnancies irrespective of non-genetic influences. In conclusion, this is the first study to assess the interactions between parity and time following delivery on variations in HMO compositions.

Beans elicit lower glycemic responses (GRs) than other starchy foods, but the minimum effective dose (MED) to reduce GR is unknown. We sought to determine the MED of beans compared to common starchy foods. Overnight-fasted healthy volunteers consumed ¼c (phase 1, n = 24) or ½c (phase 2, n = 18) of black, cranberry, great northern, kidney, navy and pinto beans and corn, rice, pasta and potato (controls), with blood glucose measured before and for 2 h after eating. GRs (incremental areas under the curves, iAUCs) after beans were consumed were compared to those of controls by ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s test. To qualify for MED, beans had to elicit an effective reduction in GR, defined as a statistically significant reduction in iAUC of ≥20% (i.e., a relative glycemic response, RGR, ≤80). Outcomes from in vitro digestion were compared with in vivo RGR. Both doses of all six beans effectively reduced GR versus all four starchy controls, except for ¼c and ½c cranberry and pinto vs. corn, ¼c great northern and navy vs. corn and ¼c navy and pinto vs. potato. MED criteria were met for 18 comparisons of the ¼c servings, with four of the remaining six met by the ½c servings. The overall mean ± SEM RGR vs. controls was similar for the ¼c and ½c servings: 53 ± 4% and 56 ± 3%, respectively. By multiple regression analysis, RGR = 23.3 × RDS + 8.3 × SDS − 20.1 × RS + 39.5 × AS − 108.2 (rapidly digested starch, p < 0.001; slowly digested starch, p = 0.054; resistant starch, p = 0.18; available sugars, p = 0.005; model r = 0.98, p = 0.001). RGR correlated with in vitro glucose release (r = 0.92, p < 0.001). The MED of beans is ¼ cup. For n = 30 comparisons (n = 24 beans vs. controls, n = 6 controls vs. each other), an effective reduction in GR was predicted from in vitro carbohydrate analysis with 86% sensitivity and 100% specificity.

Background and objectives: Beans elicit a low glycemic response compared to other starchy foods. However, previous studies have tested serving sizes that may not be achieved in a usual meal. This study compared the blood glucose response of beans consumed at 1/4 and 1/2 cup with that elicited by similar amounts of common starchy foods. Methods: Six commonly consumed Canadian beans (pinto, black turtle, cranberry, red kidney, navy and great northern) and starchy control foods (white rice, macaroni, instant potato and corn) were consumed by healthy volunteers in a using an open-label, randomized cross-over trial. Foods were consumed at either 1/4 cup (n=16 to 24) or 1/2 cup (n=12 to 18) after an overnight fast and blood glucose response was measured over a 2hr period. Incremental area under the blood glucose (iAUC), relative glycemic response and insulin (at 1/2 cup only) response curves were calculated and analyzed for treatments effects. Results: Overall beans consumed at 1/4 cup servings elicited lower glycemic responses than 1/4 cup servings of corn, macaroni, potato and rice, although iAUC for individual beans were not significantly different from corn. At 1/4 cup serving, mean reductions in blood glucose response elicited by the beans compared to controls were: 34±4% (vs. corn); 59±3% (vs. macaroni); 51±3% (vs. potato) and 61±3% (vs. rice) (paired t-test; all p<0.05). Similarly, at 1/2 cup serving mean reductions in blood glucose response elicited by beans were: 38±5% (vs. corn); 64±3% (vs. macaroni); 55±5% (vs. potato) and 68±3% (vs. rice) (paired t-test; all p<0.05). By ANOVA all 6 beans had significantly lower iAUC than the respective starchy control, except for cranberry, which had an iAUC that was not significantly different from corn eaten at 1/2 cup. Insulin response curve elicited by 1/2 cup beans was not significantly different from potato indicating that the blood glucose lowering effect of beans is not due to hyperinsulinemia. Conclusions: Beans consumed at 1/4 and 1/2 cup reduce blood glucose response by a minimum of 20%, which is defined as a significant effect. This information can be used for regulatory approval of a health claim for pulse and blood glucose attenuation.