title: Impact of palm date consumption on microbiota growth and large intestinal health: a randomised, controlled, cross-over, human intervention study.
abstract: The reported inverse association between the intake of plant-based foods and a reduction in the prevalence of colorectal cancer may be partly mediated by interactions between insoluble fibre and (poly)phenols and the intestinal microbiota. In the present study, we assessed the impact of palm date consumption, rich in both polyphenols and fibre, on the growth of colonic microbiota and markers of colon cancer risk in a randomised, controlled, cross-over human intervention study. A total of twenty-two healthy human volunteers were randomly assigned to either a control group (maltodextrin-dextrose, 37·1 g) or an intervention group (seven dates, approximately 50 g). Each arm was of 21 d duration and was separated by a 14-d washout period in a cross-over manner. Changes in the growth of microbiota were assessed by fluorescence in situ hybridisation analysis, whereas SCFA levels were assessed using HPLC. Further, ammonia concentrations, faecal water genotoxicity and anti-proliferation ability were also assessed using different assays, which included cell work and the Comet assay. Accordingly, dietary intakes, anthropometric measurements and bowel movement assessment were also carried out. Although the consumption of dates did not induce significant changes in the growth of select bacterial groups or SCFA, there were significant increases in bowel movements and stool frequency (P<0·01; n 21) and significant reductions in stool ammonia concentration (P<0·05; n 21) after consumption of dates, relative to baseline. Furthermore, date fruit intake significantly reduced genotoxicity in human faecal water relative to control (P<0·01; n 21). Our data indicate that consumption of date fruit may reduce colon cancer risk without inducing changes in the microbiota.
authors.affiliation: 1Human Nutrition Group,Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences,School of Chemistry,Food and Pharmacy,University of Reading,Reading RG6 6AP,UK.
authors.forename: Noura
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Eid
authors.affiliation: 1Human Nutrition Group,Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences,School of Chemistry,Food and Pharmacy,University of Reading,Reading RG6 6AP,UK.
authors.forename: Hristina
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Osmanova
authors.affiliation: 1Human Nutrition Group,Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences,School of Chemistry,Food and Pharmacy,University of Reading,Reading RG6 6AP,UK.
authors.forename: Cecile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Natchez
authors.affiliation: 2Food Microbial Sciences Group,Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences,School of Chemistry,Food and Pharmacy,University of Reading,Reading RG6 6AP,UK.
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Walton
authors.affiliation: 2Food Microbial Sciences Group,Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences,School of Chemistry,Food and Pharmacy,University of Reading,Reading RG6 6AP,UK.
authors.forename: Adele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Costabile
authors.affiliation: 2Food Microbial Sciences Group,Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences,School of Chemistry,Food and Pharmacy,University of Reading,Reading RG6 6AP,UK.
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.affiliation: 1Human Nutrition Group,Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences,School of Chemistry,Food and Pharmacy,University of Reading,Reading RG6 6AP,UK.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rowland
authors.affiliation: 1Human Nutrition Group,Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences,School of Chemistry,Food and Pharmacy,University of Reading,Reading RG6 6AP,UK.
authors.forename: Jeremy P E
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Spencer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000641:Ammonia / Q000032:analysis; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015992:Body Mass Index; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003013:Clostridium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003106:Colon / Q000382:microbiology; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004249:DNA Damage; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005051:Eubacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D019073:HT29 Cells; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007420:Intestine, Large / Q000382:microbiology*; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D064307:Microbiota; D008875:Middle Aged; D065749:Phoeniceae; D045857:Ruminococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D000641:Ammonia; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: CRC colorectal cancer; Cancer biomarkers; DNA genotoxicity; Date palm fruit; GI gastrointestinal; Gastrointestinal health; Gut microbiota