Increasing levels of Parasutterella in the gut microbiome correlate with improving low-density lipoprotein levels in healthy adults consuming resistant potato starch during a randomised trial

Abstract

Background Prebiotics, defined as a substrate that is selectively utilized by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit, present a potential option to optimize gut microbiome health. Elucidating the relationship between specific intestinal bacteria, prebiotic intake, and the health of the host remains a primary microbiome research goal. Objective To assess the correlations between gut microbiota, serum health parameters, and prebiotic consumption in healthy adults. Methods We performed ad hoc exploratory analysis of changes in abundance of genera in the gut microbiome of 75 participants from a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial that evaluated the effects of resistant potato starch (RPS; MSPrebiotic®, N = 38) intervention versus a fully digestible placebo (N = 37) for which primary and secondary outcomes have previously been published. Pearson correlation analysis was used to identify relationships between health parameters (ie. blood glucose and lipids) and populations of gut bacteria. Results Abundance of Parasutterella (phylum Proteobacteria) tended to increase in the gut microbiome of individuals consuming RPS and those increases in Parasutterella were correlated with reductions in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels in participants consuming RPS but not placebo. Segregating RPS-consuming individuals whose LDL levels decreased (ie “Responders”) from those who did not (ie. “Non-Responders”) revealed that LDL Responders had significantly higher levels of Parasutterella both at baseline and after 12 weeks of consuming RPS. Conclusion Our analyses suggest that RPS may help improve LDL levels depending upon the levels of Parasutterella in an individual’s gut microbiome. Trial registration This study protocol was reviewed and approved by Health Canada (Submission #188517; “Notice of Authorization” dated 06/05/13) and registered as NCT01977183 (10/11/13) listed on NIH website: ClinicalTrials.gov. Data generated in this study have been submitted to NCBI (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bioproject/381931). Funding MSP Starch Products Inc.

Resistant Starches and Non-Communicable Disease: A Focus on Mediterranean Diet

“…RPS consumers had a gut microbiome containing higher Parasutterella (phylum Proteobacteria ) levels than subjects consuming placebo, andsuch increases were correlated with reductions in the blood levels of low-density lipoproteins. On this basis, it is feasible that the effect of Parasutterella on the host’s metabolism might depend upon several partly unknown factors, including prebiotic consumption, and they could play a critical role in cholesterol homeostasis [ 68 , 69 ].…”

“…The beneficial effect of a long-term (12 months) dietary intervention with increased fiber intake, including RS on humans, was assessed [ 69 , 70 ]. In the study, two dietary groups were investigated, RS group subjects ingested higher amounts of food rich in RS (especially cereals and legumes) in order to consume about 15 g/day of RS, while subjects in the fiber group received general advice to ingest vegetables rich in fiber, without specific advice on the intake of RS-rich foods.…”

“…Shelf life also increases RS content in some foods, such as durum wheat pasta. RS food claims were based on clinical trials [ 12 , 16 , 39 , 40 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 ].…”

Dysbiosis in the Gut Microbiome in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes Rats and Follow-Up During Retinal Changes

“…A decrease in Parasutterella would be detrimental to DM subjects because Parasutterella has been correlated with reductions in low-density lipoprotein levels. 48 Further, Coriabacteriaceae ; g _UCG-003 was the only genus that increased in both DM1 and DM2 microbiomes, and four other genera ( Phascolarctobacterium, Lachnospiraceae, Megasphaera , and Romboutsia ) that are either probiotic or anti-inflammatory in function increased only in DM2 microbiomes. 42 , 43 …”

Additional Resistant Starch from One Potato Side Dish per Day Alters the Gut Microbiota but Not Fecal Short-Chain Fatty Acid Concentrations

“…Baxter et al [ 18 ] reported increased fecal butyrate levels detected at a 14 g/day dose level for potato starch, though did not report on microbiota changes at this dose level. Furthermore, isolated prebiotic potato starch has been shown to significantly increase levels of Bifidobacterium [ 54 , 55 ], one of the most commonly reported effects of potato starch consumption on the gut microbiota [ 56 ]. In unpublished results, the same group has seen Bifidobacterium increases in doses as low as 3.5 g/day.…”