title: Reinforcement of intestinal epithelial barrier by arabinoxylans in overweight and obese subjects: A randomized controlled trial: Arabinoxylans in gut barrier.
abstract: Obesity and metabolic diseases are associated with alterations in microbial composition and impaired gut barrier. Previous in vitro and animal studies have shown that arabinoxylans (AX) have the potential to modulate gut microbiota and gut barrier and therefore could have a protective role. Primary aim of the study was to investigate the effect of AX on intestinal permeability. Secondary aims included the effect of AX on gene transcription and protein expression of tight junctions (TJ), intestinal microbiota composition and activity, immune response and metabolic markers in overweight and obese individuals.
  
  
  
  In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 47 overweight subjects were randomly assigned to groups receiving 7.5 g/d AX (n = 16), 15 g/d AX (n = 17) or 15 g/d placebo (n = 14) for 6 wks. Intestinal permeability was investigated using a multi-sugar test. Sigmoid colon tissue was obtained from a subgroup (n = 26) for analyzing gene transcription and mucosal expression of TJ proteins. Fecal samples were collected to assess microbial composition and activity. Furthermore, the production of cytokines by stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was examined. Blood was also sampled for measuring metabolic markers.
  
  
  
  No significant changes in gastrointestinal permeability and TJ protein expression were observed after 6 wks AX supplementation compared to placebo. However, gene transcription of occludin was upregulated in the 7.5 g AX group, and transcription of claudin-3 and claudin-4 were upregulated in the 15 g AX group compared to placebo. Furthermore, fecal microbiota diversity was decreased after 6 wks 15 g AX treatment, but no change in relative abundance of dominant phyla was observed. AX intake significantly decreased fecal pH and increased fecal concentrations of total SCFAs, acetate, propionate and butyrate, compared to placebo. Additionally, a decreased TNFα production by stimulated PBMCs was observed after 15 g AX treatment. No changes in metabolic markers were detected.
  
  
  
  Regular consumption of AX resulted in a more beneficial fermentation profile in overweight and obese individuals. Further studies are required to assess whether such fermentation profile will translate into improved gut barrier function and immune health. The trial has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with study ID number NCT01877044.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, School of Nutrition & Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: bouke.salden@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
authors.forename: Bouke N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Salden
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, School of Nutrition & Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Freddy J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Troost
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, School of Nutrition & Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wilms
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Truchado
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infection Diseases, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ramiro
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vilchez-Vargas
authors.affiliation: Microbial Interactions and Processes Research Group, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Dietmar H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Pieper
authors.affiliation: Microbial Interactions and Processes Research Group, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Ruy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jáuregui
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marzorati
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van de Wiele
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Possemiers
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, School of Nutrition & Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ad A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Masclee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D010539:Permeability; D014990:Xylans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014990:Xylans; C085118:arabinoxylan
keywords: Arabinoxylans; Gut barrier; Gut microbiota; Obesity; Prebiotics