A fermented product supports beneficial functional properties of a fiber-deprived microbiota
Dietary-fiber deprivation compromises gut mucosal barrier integrity by promoting microbial degradation of host-secreted colonic mucus, a process linked to increased susceptibility to various gut-related diseases. To explore alternative strategies to support gut homeostasis beyond a high-fiber diet, we investigated the effects of a sterilized fermentation product in a mouse model with a complex microbiota. We show that a fermented product, alone and in combination with a prebiotic supplement and aloe vera juice, counteracted the expansion of key mucindegrading bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila observed on a fiber-free diet. Metatranscriptomic analysis revealed a community-wide functional pivot away from expression of enzymes that target mucin, such as sialidases, and towards non-host-carbohydrate degradation pathways. These microbial shifts recapitulated the effects of dietary-fiber reintroduction and translated to direct host benefits, including support of the colonic mucus layer and attenuation of diet-induced type III cytokines. Our findings indicate that a fermented product-based dietary supplementation could offer a promising alternative non-medicinal strategy to support gut homeostasis, especially in a context, in which a strict high fiber dietary intervention is not possible or recommended.
Dietary-fiber deprivation compromises gut mucosal barrier integrity by promoting microbial degradation of host-secreted colonic mucus, a process linked to increased susceptibility to various gut-related diseases. To explore alternative strategies to support gut homeostasis beyond a high-fiber diet, we investigated the effects of a sterilized fermentation product in a mouse model with a complex microbiota. We show that a fermented product, alone and in combination with a prebiotic supplement and aloe vera juice, counteracted the expansion of key mucindegrading bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila observed on a fiber-free diet. Metatranscriptomic analysis revealed a community-wide functional pivot away from expression of enzymes that target mucin, such as sialidases, and towards non-host-carbohydrate degradation pathways. These microbial shifts recapitulated the effects of dietary-fiber reintroduction and translated to direct host benefits, including support of the colonic mucus layer and attenuation of diet-induced type III cytokines. Our findings indicate that a fermented product-based dietary supplementation could offer a promising alternative non-medicinal strategy to support gut homeostasis, especially in a context, in which a strict high fiber dietary intervention is not possible or recommended.