Assessing the impact of insect protein sources on intestinal health and disease: insights from human ex vivo and rat in vivo models

Abstract

The exploration of edible insects, specifically Alphitobius diaperinus and Tenebrio molitor, as sustainable sources of protein for human consumption is an emerging field. However, research into their effects on intestinal...

Intestinal Taste Receptor Expression and Its Implications for Health: An Integrative Analysis in Female Rats after Chronic Insect Supplementation

“…Dietary glutamate and aspartate are metabolized during intestinal transport to various products, including urea metabolites. 74 , 75 In this regard, previous findings from our group showed that insect supplementation in rats ameliorates LPS-altered urea levels in plasma, 37 reinforcing the link between L-amino acid levels reaching the jejunum and plasma urea levels. Thus, the correlations observed in our study raise the possibility that the activation of umami intestinal taste receptors could play a role in the regulation of nitrogen metabolism.…”

“…We have previously shown that LPS-intestinal-induced inflammatory stimulus caused an inflammatory profile at intestinal and peripheral levels that is in some respects ameliorated by insect consumption. 37 In this paper, we have investigated the impact of LPS on intestinal taste receptors and explored the effects of insect consumption in this inflammatory scenario. Our results revealed that the injection of LPS had minimal impact on the assessed intestinal taste receptors, with minor significant changes observed.…”

“…Data encompassing morphometric, biochemical, immunological, and intestinal permeability analysis in this study have previously been collected, analyzed, and used for research purposes. 37 These data include tissue weights, intestinal lengths, and biochemical analyses (including glucose, triglycerides, urea, cholesterol, creatinine, and β-hydroxybutyrate). Inflammatory and allergenic parameters in both plasma and intestine (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10, secretory IgA, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, IgE, histamine, and the relative gene expression of IgA and IL-1β) are as well as intestinal permeability.…”

“…Our findings demonstrated healthy responses in terms of systemic and intestinal inflammation, allergenic response, and intestinal morphology in rats after chronic insect supplementation in both conditions. 37 However, there is still a lack of evidence for the role of extra-oral taste receptors after insect consumption and its potential implications for intestinal health. Considering the presence of 5-ribonucleotides and several amino acids or peptides specific to insects, these are expected to interact with type I and some type II taste receptors in the intestinal tract, thereby adding a novel dimension to our exploration of the broader impact of insect consumption on intestinal health.…”