Prebiotic Effect of Lycopene and Dark Chocolate on Gut Microbiome with Systemic Changes in Liver Metabolism, Skeletal Muscles and Skin in Moderately Obese Persons

Abstract

Lycopene rich food and dark chocolate are among the best-documented products with a broad health benefit. This study explored the systemic effect of lycopene and dark chocolate (DC) on gut microbiota, blood, liver metabolism, skeletal muscle tissue oxygenation and skin. 30 volunteers were recruited for this trial, 15 women and 15 men with a mean age of 55 ± 5.7 years and with moderate obesity, 30 < BMI < 35 kg/m2. They were randomized and divided into five equal interventional groups: three received different formulations of lycopene, one of them with a 7 mg daily dose and two with 30 mg; another group was given 10 g of DC with 7 mg lycopene embedded into its matrix, and the last group received 10 g DC. The trial was double-blinded for the three lycopene groups and separately for the 2 DC groups; the trial lasted for 1 month. By the end of the trial there were dose-dependent changes in the gut microbiota profile in all three lycopene groups with an increase of relative abundance of, e.g., Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Bifidobacterium longum. This was also accompanied by dose-dependent changes in the blood, liver metabolism, skeletal muscle and skin parameters. Consumption of DC resulted in increased relative abundance of, e.g., Lactobacillus and a reduction of corneocyte exfoliation. This is the first study which reports the prebiotic potential of lycopene and DC.

The Influence of the Gut Microbiome on Obesity in Adults and the Role of Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics for Weight Loss

“…Furthermore, there was a significant change in certain butyrate-producing microbes (Faecalibacterium, Ruminococcus, and Oscillospira). These results indicate that prebiotic consumption reinforces microbial diversity and has beneficial effects on the health of the host (Wiese et al, 2019).…”

“…Probiotics may also inhibit fat accumulation, reduce inflammation and insulin resistance, and regulate neuropeptides and gastrointestinal peptides (Sivamaruthi et al, 2019;Wang et al, 2019b). Prebiotics: Traditionally, prebiotics were considered to be non-metabolized food ingredients, which reach the intestinal lumen and are selectively utilized by beneficial microbes in the host (Tandon et al, 2019;Wiese et al, 2019). Inulin, galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), and fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) are the most frequently analysed prebiotic supplements in recent studies (Wiese et al, 2019).…”

“…Prebiotics: Traditionally, prebiotics were considered to be non-metabolized food ingredients, which reach the intestinal lumen and are selectively utilized by beneficial microbes in the host (Tandon et al, 2019;Wiese et al, 2019). Inulin, galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), and fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) are the most frequently analysed prebiotic supplements in recent studies (Wiese et al, 2019). Fermentable carbohydrate inulin is able to increase the density of cells that produce the appetite suppressing hormone PYY by 87%, thus showing its role in reducing food intake and enhancing obesity treatment (Brooks et al, 2016).…”

(−)-Epicatechin and the comorbidities of obesity

“…On the other hand, EC supplementation (20 mg/kg BW) did not restore high fat diet-induced changes in mouse microbiota profiles [22]. In terms of PAC, a recent study showed that consumption of dark chocolate (70% cocoa) by obese individuals increases the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, which might have anti-obesity effects [49]. PACs also exert bacteriostatic effects in humans, that might contribute to the modulation of microbiota composition [50].…”

Compostos bioativos de interesse para a indústria de alimentos: propriedades, aplicações e perspectivas para o mercado consumidor

“…Além da atividade antioxidante, outras funções podem ser desempenhadas pelo licopeno. Em um estudo randomizado, onde 30 voluntários com obesidade moderada receberam doses de licopeno de 7 mg/dia e 30 mg/dia, foi observada uma modulação na microbiota intestinal com abundância de Bifidobacterium adolescentis e B. longum, evidenciando, de forma inédita, a sua ação prebiótica (Wiese et al, 2019). Research, Society and Development, v. 9, n. 10, e3469108094, 2020 (CC BY 4.0) | ISSN 2525-3409 | DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v9i10.8094 elaboração de filmes plásticos, em especial em embalagens ativas e inteligentes para alimentos com alto teor lipídico.…”