Gut Microbiota and Dietary Factors as Modulators of the Mucus Layer in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract

The gastrointestinal tract is optimized to efficiently absorb nutrients and provide a competent barrier against a variety of lumen environmental compounds. Different regulatory mechanisms jointly collaborate to maintain intestinal homeostasis, but alterations in these mechanisms lead to a dysfunctional gastrointestinal barrier and are associated to several inflammatory conditions usually found in chronic pathologies such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The gastrointestinal mucus, mostly composed of mucin glycoproteins, covers the epithelium and plays an essential role in digestive and barrier functions. However, its regulation is very dynamic and is still poorly understood. This review presents some aspects concerning the role of mucus in gut health and its alterations in IBD. In addition, the impact of gut microbiota and dietary compounds as environmental factors modulating the mucus layer is addressed. To date, studies have evidenced the impact of the three-way interplay between the microbiome, diet and the mucus layer on the gut barrier, host immune system and IBD. This review emphasizes the need to address current limitations on this topic, especially regarding the design of robust human trials and highlights the potential interest of improving our understanding of the regulation of the intestinal mucus barrier in IBD.

Polyphenols and Ulcerative Colitis: An Exploratory Study of the Effects of Red Wine Consumption on Gut and Oral Microbiome in Active‐Phase Patients

“…In addition, diet conditions the composition of the gut microbiota, an aspect that is increasingly associated with the development and evolution of IBD. [ 23 , 24 ] At first glance, wine consumption should be examined as a complex nutritional intervention in UC pathology because of the presence of ethanol, which has been associated with intestinal dysmotility and local inflammation and oxidative stress, amongst other effects. [ 25 ] In addition, the only wine intervention in UC patients reported in the bibliography revealed controversial results, since moderate wine consumption increased gut permeability at the same time that reduced intestinal inflammatory markers.…”

Native and Engineered Probiotics: Promising Agents against Related Systemic and Intestinal Diseases

“…Furthermore, the interactions between multi-organs are still ambiguous, which limits the scope of probiotic application. Combined with the complexity of interactions among strains and the complex dietary factors [ 283 ], these difficulties make it hard for us to judge the role played by a specific probiotic in a particular microenvironment. In general, for the development of probiotic therapy, we need to strengthen the basic research related to probiotics, including the mechanism of the interactions between probiotics and different organs, the relationship between probiotics and commensal microorganisms, etc.…”

Protective Effects of Natural Antioxidants on Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Thymol and Its Pharmacological Properties

“…The latest study found that dietary thymol reduced the plasma endotoxin and D-lactic acid concentrations on days 7 and 14 post-weaning [ 45 ]. The intestinal mucus layer is the first line of defense maintaining bacterial symbiosis with the host and preventing bacterial penetration into epithelial cells [ 46 ]. Thymol increases mucus secretion to relieve ethanol-induced ulcer mucosal damage in rats [ 47 ].…”