title: Fermented Papaya Preparation Restores Age-Related Reductions in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Cytolytic Activity in Tube-Fed Patients.
abstract: Tube-fed elderly patients are generally supplied with the same type of nutrition over long periods, resulting in an increased risk for micronutrient deficiencies. Dietary polyphenols promote immunity and have anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-oxidative properties. Carica papaya Linn. is rich in several polyphenols; however, these polyphenols are poorly absorbed from the digestive tract in their original polymerized form. Therefore, we determined the molecular components of a fermented Carica papaya Linn. preparation, as well as its effects on immunity and the composition of gut microbiota in tube-fed patients. Different doses of the fermented C. papaya L. preparation were administered to three groups of tube-fed patients for 30 days. Its effects on fecal microbiota composition and immunity were assessed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and immune-marker analysis, respectively. The chemical composition of the fermented C. papaya L. preparation was analyzed by capillary electrophoresis- and liquid chromatography- time of flight mass spectrometry. The fermented C. papaya L. preparation restored peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cytolytic activity; however, no other biomarkers of immunity were observed. Treatment with the preparation (9 g/day) significantly reduced the abundance of Firmicutes in the fecal microbiota. In particular, treatment reduced Clostridium scindens and Eggerthella lenta in most patients receiving 9 g/day. Chemical analysis identified low-molecular-weight phenolic acids as polyphenol metabolites; however, no polymerized, large-molecular-weight molecules were detected. Our study indicates that elderly patients who are tube-fed over the long-term have decreased PBMC cytolytic activity. In addition, low-molecular-weight polyphenol metabolites fermented from polymerized polyphenols restore PBMC cytolytic activity and modulate the composition of gut microbiota in tube-fed patients.
authors.affiliation: Yuno Onsen Hospital, Yuno, Syunan-shi, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuhzo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.affiliation: Yuno Onsen Hospital, Yuno, Syunan-shi, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Haruo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsuno
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Division of Systems Bioengineering, Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Graduate School, Kyushu University, Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Jiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nakayama
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D029441:Carica / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000068536:Bacillota / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D028321:Plant Preparations; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D002097:C-Reactive Protein