Anti-aging effects of a functional food via the action of gut microbiota and metabolites in aging mice

Abstract

Wushen (WS) is a mixed food containing 55 natural products that is beneficial to human health. This study aimed to reveal the preventive effect of WS on aging via a combined analysis of gut microbiome and metabolome. Senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice were used as aging model and senescence-accelerated mouse resistant 1 (SAMR1) mice as control. The mice were fed four diet types; control diet (for SAMR1 mice), standard diet (for SAMP8 mice, as SD group), WS diet, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT; transplanted from aging-WS mice). Our results showed that the weight, food intake, neurological function, and general physical conditions significantly improved in WS-fed mice compared to those fed with SD. The CA1 hippocampal region in WS-fed aged mice showed fewer shriveled neurons and increased neuronal layers compared to that of the SD group. WS-fed mice showed a decrease in malondialdehyde and an increase in superoxide dismutase levels in the brain; additionally, IL-6 and TNF-α levels significantly decreased, whereas IL-2 levels and the proportion of lymphocytes, CD3+CD8+ T, and CD4+IFNγ+T cells increased in WS-fed mice. After fed with WS, the abundance of Ruminococcus and Butyrivibrio markedly increased, whereas Lachnoclostridium and Ruminiclostridium significantly decreased in the aging mice. In addition, 887 differentially expressed metabolites were identified in fecal samples, among these, Butyrivibrio was positively correlated with D-glucuronic acid and Ruminococcus was positively associated with 5-acetamidovalerate. These findings provide mechanistic insight into the impact of WS on aging, and WS may be a valuable diet for preventing aging.

The Impacts of Short-Term NMN Supplementation on Serum Metabolism, Fecal Microbiota, and Telomere Length in Pre-Aging Phase

“…Gut microbiota-targeted interventions have been conducted to retard aging and improve host health ( 20 ). A preventive effect of natural functional food on aging via the regulation of gut microbiota and relevant metabolites has also been demonstrated ( 21 ). Gut microbiota transplantation of young donors is evident to reverse age-associated impairments in the peripheral and brain immunity, and cognitive behavior in older recipients ( 22 ).…”

Intestinal microbiota: a new perspective on delaying aging?

“…For example, the functional food Wushen (WS), which is a powdered mixture of 55 foods, interferes with the body’s gut microbiota through a complex composition of compounds in the food to exert anti-aging effects. After feeding WS to SAMP8 mice, the intestinal microbiota of the WS group displayed a marked enhancement in the abundance of Luminococcus and Butyrivella and a reduction in Clostridium pullulans , Clostridium luminous , Bacteroides coelicolor, and Investinimonas , with changes in the metabolic profile, especially for metabolites involved in linoleic acid metabolism and neuroactive ligand–receptor interactions ( Zhang et al, 2021 ). In comparison with the controls, WS effectively alleviated aging-related decreases in food intake, body weight, muscle mass, and adiposity, improved learning and memory abilities, attenuated cognitive decline, and enhanced immune function in mice ( Zhang et al, 2021 ).…”

Gemfibrozil, a lipid‐lowering drug, improves hepatorenal damages in a mouse model of aging

“…Aging, a complex progressive process, encompasses a network of mechanisms, including central and peripheral inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune‐senescence, leading to aging‐related diseases [1–3]. By 2030, around 20% of the world population will be over 65 [4–7]. Data showed that the risk of renal diseases will increase in older people (≥65 years), and aging may enhance the severity of acute kidney injury in this population.…”