title: Consumption of a diet rich in Brassica vegetables is associated with a reduced abundance of sulphate-reducing bacteria: A randomised crossover study.
abstract: We examined whether a Brassica-rich diet was associated with an increase in the relative abundance of intestinal lactobacilli and sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB), or alteration to the composition of the gut microbiota, in healthy adults.
  
  
  
  A randomised crossover study was performed with ten healthy adults who were fed a high- and a low-Brassica diet for 2-wk periods, with a 2-wk washout phase separating the diets. The high-Brassica diet consisted of six 84 g portions of broccoli, six 84 g portions of cauliflower and six 300 g portions of a broccoli and sweet potato soup. The low-Brassica diet consisted of one 84 g portion of broccoli and one 84 g portion of cauliflower. Faecal microbiota composition was measured in samples collected following 2-wk Brassica-free periods (consumption of all Brassica prohibited), and after each diet, whereby the only Brassica consumed was that supplied by the study team. No significant changes to the relative abundance of lactobacilli were observed (p = 0.8019). The increased consumption of Brassica was associated with a reduction in the relative abundance of SRB (p = 0.0215), and members of the Rikenellaceae, Ruminococcaceae, Mogibacteriaceae, Clostridium and unclassified Clostridiales (p < 0.01).
  
  
  
  The increased consumption of Brassica vegetables was linked to a reduced relative abundance of SRB, and therefore may be potentially beneficial to gastrointestinal health.
authors.affiliation: Food and Health Programme, Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Lee
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6135-6321
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kellingray
authors.affiliation: Analytical Sciences Unit, Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Henri S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Tapp
authors.affiliation: Food and Health Programme, Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Shikha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.affiliation: Food and Health Programme, Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Joanne F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Doleman
authors.affiliation: Gut Health and Food Safety Programme, Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Arjan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Narbad
authors.affiliation: Food and Health Programme, Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Richard F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Mithen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001937:Brassica; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013431:Sulfates / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013431:Sulfates
keywords: Brassica; Gastrointestinal health; Gut microbiota; Randomised crossover study; Sulphate-reducing bacteria