Isoflavones and functional foods alter the dominant intestinal microbiota in postmenopausal women.
Dietary phytoestrogens, such as isoflavones, are used as food additives to prevent menopause-related disorders. In addition to other factors, their bioavailability strongly depends on the activity of intestinal bacteria but the underlying interactions remain poorly understood. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was undertaken with 39 postmenopausal women to characterize changes in the dominant microbial communities of the intestinal tract after 2 mo of isoflavone supplementation with and without pro- or prebiotic. The diversity and composition of the dominant microbiota were analyzed by temporal temperature-gradient gel electrophoresis (TTGE) and fluorescent in situ hybridization. Isoflavones alone stimulated dominant microorganisms of the Clostridium coccoides-Eubacterium rectale cluster, Lactobacillus-Enterococcus group, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii subgroup, and Bifidobacterium genus. The stimulation of the Clostridium coccoides-Eubacterium rectale cluster depended on the women's equol excretion and was transient, with the exception of a prolonged bifidogenic effect. Lasting changes in the diversity of the dominant species were also observed. The probiotic strain supplied could be detected by TTGE during its passage through the intestinal tract, and ingestion of fructooligosaccharides triggered a marked and specific bifidogenic effect. In conclusion, this is the first human study that shows changes in the diversity and composition of dominant bacterial communities in response to dietary supplementation with hormone-related compounds combined with functional foods.
Clavel
Thomas
T
Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Unité d'Ecologie et de Physiologie du Système Digestif, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
Fallani
Matteo
M
Lepage
Patricia
P
Levenez
Florence
F
Mathey
Jacinthe
J
Rochet
Violaine
V
Sérézat
Michèle
M
Sutren
Malène
M
Henderson
Gemma
G
Bennetau-Pelissero
Catherine
C
Tondu
Françoise
F
Blaut
Michael
M
Doré
Joël
J
Coxam
Véronique
V
D000368:Aged; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005502:Food; D005784:Gene Amplification; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D017698:Postmenopause; D019936:Probiotics
D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D007529:Isoflavones; D010919:Placebos