Soy Protein Alleviates Malnutrition in Weaning Rats by Regulating Gut Microbiota Composition and Serum Metabolites

Abstract

Dietary intervention with plant protein is one of the main methods that is used to lessen the symptoms of malnutrition. Supplementary soy protein to undernourished weaning rats for 6 weeks significantly increased their body weight gain. After the intervention, the level of total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) was restored to 1,512.7 μg/g, while the level was only 637.1 μg/g in the 7% protein group. The amino acids (valine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, and tryptophan) increased in the colon, and vitamin B6 metabolism was significantly influenced in undernourished rats. The tryptophan and glycine-serine-threonine pathways were elevated, leading to an increase in the level of tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) in the serum. In addition, the relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and Lactobacillus increased, while Enterococcus and Streptococcus decreased compared to undernourished rats. Overall, soy protein improved the growth of rats with malnutrition in early life by regulating gut microbiota and metabolites in the colon and serum.

Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) fortified functional foods ameliorate iron and protein malnutrition by improving growth and modulating oxidative stress and gut microbiota in rats

“…59,61 An earlier report suggested that soy protein supplementation increased the relative abundance of the Lactobacillus and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and reduced Streptococcus and Enterococcus in undernourished rats. 62 In a recent study, Spirulina was reported to promote the proliferation of Lactobacillus acidophilus under in vitro culture conditions and positively modulated the gut microbiota composition in healthy individuals 63 corroborating with the observations of the present study. Similarly, supplementing iron in the diet to IDA induced rats promoted the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Coprobacillus, and Anaerotruncus, and reduced the Bacteroides, Proteus, Streptococcus, Enterococcus and Parabacteroides.…”

A comprehensive review of mung bean proteins: Extraction, characterization, biological potential, techno‐functional properties, modifications, and applications

“…The body weight/tail length and insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)‐1 levels related to early hippocampal development were restored, and rats fed MBP performed well in the Morris water maze test. Although previous studies reported that supplementing the MBP diet increased (IGF)‐1 content (19.88%), which was lower than that of soy protein (53.1%) and chickpea protein (approximately 26.67%), it also suggested that MBP plays an important role in improving memory dysfunction (Figueiredo et al., 2016; Gao et al., 2023; Wei, Wang et al., 2021; Wei, Zhou et al., 2021). Furthermore, we explored this potential mechanism by highlighting the decreased mRNA and protein expression levels of key factors involved in brain synaptic ultrastructure, such as synaptosome‐associated protein 25, postsynaptic density 95 protein, and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor.…”

Promoting Effect and Potential Mechanism of Lactobacillus pentosus LPQ1-Produced Active Compounds on the Secretion of 5-Hydroxytryptophan

“…Accordingly, the use of probiotics for the alleviation of neurodegenerative diseases, including depression, have gained attention in recent years [ 20 ]. The relative abundance of Lactobacillus was reported to be closely related to the serum level of 5-HTP [ 21 ]. Lactococcus lactis WHH2078 was also found to modulate 5-HT metabolism by increasing colonic and serum 5-HTP levels, thus exerting antidepressant effects in mice [ 22 ].…”