Understanding How Diet and Gut Bacteria Affect Crohn's Disease

Jenn Hoskins
16th August, 2024

Understanding How Diet and Gut Bacteria Affect Crohn's Disease

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • The study from Sun Yat-sen University found that Crohn's disease (CD) patients consume fewer polyphenols compared to healthy individuals
  • CD patients have a reduced capacity for flavonoid degradation due to an altered gut microbiota
  • Lower levels of serum hippuric acid (HA), a beneficial polyphenol metabolite, were observed in CD patients, linked to less healthy gut bacteria
Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Research has shown that dietary polyphenols—compounds found in plants—can have protective effects against CD in preclinical models. However, the role of gut microbiota in metabolizing these polyphenols and their impact on CD patients compared to healthy individuals remains unclear. A recent study conducted by Sun Yat-sen University aimed to decode the metabolism of polyphenols in CD patients by examining their diet, gut microbiota, and resulting metabolites[1]. Dietary analysis revealed that CD patients consume fewer polyphenols compared to healthy controls. Polyphenols require gut bacteria to be metabolized into bioactive compounds, which then exert physiological benefits. The study utilized metagenomic data from two clinical cohorts, FAH-SYSU and PRISM, to quantify bacteria and functional genes associated with polyphenol degradation. Findings indicated a reduced capacity for flavonoid degradation in the gut microbiota of CD patients. This study aligns with previous research that emphasizes the importance of diet and gut microbiota in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). For instance, specific nutrients in a Western diet can worsen gut inflammation in genetically susceptible hosts[2]. Additionally, environmental factors such as diet and gut microbiota composition are closely linked to the development and progression of IBD, though the exact mechanisms remain complex[3]. Further analysis of serum metabolites and enterotypes in the FAH-SYSU cohort showed that CD patients had lower levels of serum hippuric acid (HA), a metabolite derived from polyphenols. HA levels were higher in healthier enterotypes, characterized by the dominance of Ruminococcaceae and Prevotellaceae—bacterial families more prevalent in healthy controls. These healthier enterotypes were positively correlated with higher polyphenol intake and the abundance of bacteria involved in flavonoid degradation and short-chain fatty acid production. The concept of enterotypes, or distinct microbial community structures in the gut, has been previously identified and is not specific to any nation or continent[4]. These enterotypes can influence how individuals respond to diet and drugs, suggesting that a well-balanced gut microbiota is crucial for effective polyphenol metabolism and overall gut health. The study’s findings provide a foundation for future research into polyphenol-based or microbiota-targeted therapies for CD. By identifying the bacterial strains and functional genes involved in polyphenol metabolism, it may be possible to develop dietary interventions or probiotics that enhance the gut microbiota's ability to metabolize polyphenols, thereby improving the health of CD patients. In summary, this study highlights the reduced capacity for polyphenol metabolism in CD patients, linked to lower polyphenol intake and an altered gut microbiota. These insights could pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies that target diet and microbiota to manage CD more effectively.

MedicineHealthFitness And Diet

References

Main Study

1) Decoding polyphenol metabolism in patients with Crohn's disease: Insights from diet, gut microbiota, and metabolites.

Published 15th August, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2024.114852

Related Studies

2) Diet fuelling inflammatory bowel diseases: preclinical and clinical concepts.

https://doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2021-326575

3) Environmental triggers in IBD: a review of progress and evidence.

https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2017.136

4) Enterotypes of the human gut microbiome.

https://doi.org/10.1038/nature09944


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