The Impact of Instant Coffee and Decaffeinated Coffee on the Gut Microbiota and Depression-Like Behaviors of Sleep-Deprived Rats

Abstract

ObjectiveBased on our previous research, chronic paradoxical sleep deprivation (PSD) can cause depression-like behaviors and microbial changes in gut microbiota. Coffee, as the world’s most popular drink for the lack of sleep, is beneficial to health and attention and can eliminate the cognitive sequelae caused by poor sleep. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of coffee and decaffeinated coffee on PSD rats.Research Design and MethodsA total of 32 rats were divided into four groups: control group, PSD model group, conventional coffee group, and decaffeinated coffee group. Behavioral tests, including sucrose preference test, open field test, forced swimming test, and tail suspension test, as well as biochemical detection for inflammatory and antioxidant indexes were performed. The effects of coffee and decaffeinated coffee on the gut microbiota of PSD rats were investigated by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.ResultsCoffee and decaffeinated coffee significantly improved the depression-like behaviors. Moreover, the serum levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha were decreased in both coffee and decaffeinated coffee groups, as well as the levels of superoxide dismutase and GSH-Px were increased. Gut microbiota analysis revealed that the abundance of S24-7, Lachnospiraceae, Oscillospira, and Parabacteroides were significantly increased in PSD rats, while the abundance of Akkermansia and Klebsiella were significantly decreased. After the treatment of coffee and decaffeinated coffee, the abundance of the above gut microbiota was all restored in different degrees. Coffee had relatively more significant effects on PSD-induced depressive-like behaviors, while the difference between coffee and decaffeinated coffee was not obvious in correcting the disorder of gut microbiota.ConclusionsThese findings have shown that both coffee and decaffeinated coffee are effective for sleep deprivation-induced depression-like behaviors and the dysbiosis of gut microbiota and indicated that caffeine may be not the only key substance of coffee for regulating gut microbiota.

Caffeine-Induced Sleep Restriction Alters the Gut Microbiome and Fecal Metabolic Profiles in Mice

“…Various studies have suggested that Proteobacteria is a Gram-negative bacteria that is commonly overrepresented in several intestinal diseases and causes a decrease in intestinal mucus, which triggers the impaired intestinal barrier and low-grade inflammation [ 51 , 52 ]. In our results, similar to the previous studies, the abundance of pro-inflammatory bacteria Proteobacteria was significantly decreased after the CISR treatment, suggesting that a sleep restriction may not induce gut dysbiosis and inflammatory responses through this microbial pathway [ 53 ]. Actinobacteria is widely used as probiotics, demonstrating beneficial effects on numerous pathological conditions, and they are critical in the maintenance of gut homeostasis, the modulation of gut permeability, the immune system, and gut–brain axis [ 54 ].…”

“…For example, caffeine has been demonstrated to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects at low concentrations and pro-inflammatory effects at high levels by inhibiting or activating cytokines [ 59 ]. As for the role of caffeine in sleep restriction, it has been suggested to exert a neuroprotective effect, meliorate the dysbiosis of gut microbiota, and reduce the levels of proinflammatory factors in serum [ 53 , 60 ]. Considering the above effects, we do not deny the possible beneficial effects of caffeine, but the inopportune use of caffeine in our CISR model caused negative effects.…”

Lactobacillus Ameliorates SD-Induced Stress Responses and Gut Dysbiosis by Increasing the Absorption of Gut-Derived GABA in Rhesus Monkeys

“…SD has become a health problem in the modern society. By definition, sleeping less than 6 h for six consecutive nights is considered chronic SD ( 28 ). In this study, we applied paradoxical sleep, bright light, and noise to build the RM SD model.…”

Polyphenols Influence the Development of Endometrial Cancer by Modulating the Gut Microbiota

“…Quercetin and its glycosides, which are present not only in coffee but also in tea and fruits, increased the abundance of Akkermansia , Bacteroides , Parabacteroides , and Ruminococcus in rats fed a high-fat sucrose diet [ 98 ]. Wistar rats orally administered soluble caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee solution showed an increase in the abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes compared to the control group [ 99 ]. Similarly, in Wistar rats with diet-induced metabolic syndrome, coffee pulp application led to a decrease in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and an increase in gut microbiota diversity [ 100 , 101 ].…”