Vitamin A supplementation ameliorates ulcerative colitis in gut microbiota-dependent manner

Bing Pang; Han Jin; Ning Liao; Junjun Li; Chunmei Jiang; Junling Shi

doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2021.110568

Vitamin A supplementation ameliorates ulcerative colitis in gut microbiota-dependent manner

Food Res Int. 2021 Oct:148:110568. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2021.110568. Epub 2021 Jul 1.

Authors

Bing Pang¹, Han Jin², Ning Liao¹, Junjun Li¹, Chunmei Jiang³, Junling Shi⁴

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 127 Youyi West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710072, China.
² Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 127 Youyi West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710072, China. Electronic address: jinhan@mail.nwpu.edu.cn.
³ Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 127 Youyi West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710072, China. Electronic address: jiangcm@nwpu.edu.cn.
⁴ Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 127 Youyi West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710072, China. Electronic address: sjlshi2004@nwpu.edu.cn.

PMID: 34507723
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2021.110568

Abstract

Ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronic relapsing inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal track. The purpose of this study is to explore whether Vitamin A (V_A) can treat UC and its mechanisms. A mouse model of UC was established using 3.0% (w/v) dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). V_A was used to treat UC by intragastric administration of 5000 international unit (IU) retinyl acetate. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) was also used to treat the UC model mice to verify the effect of influenced gut microbiota. The content of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in cecal contents was quantitatively detected by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. V_A supplementation significantly ameliorated UC. 16S rRNA sequencing indicated that V_A-treated mice exhibited much more abundant gut microbial diversity and flora composition. Targeted metabolomics analysis manifested the increased production of SCFAs in V_A-treated mice. Gut microbiota depletion and FMT results confirmed the gut microbiota-dependent mechanism as that V_A relieved UC via regulating gut microbiota: increase in SCFA-producing genera and decrease in UC-related genera. The restore of intestinal barrier and the inhibition of inflammation were also found to contribute to the amelioration of UC by V_A. It was concluded that a V_A supplement was enough to cause a significant change in gut microbiota and amelioration of UC.

Keywords: Fecal microbiota transplantation; Gut microbiota; Short-chain fatty acids; Ulcerative colitis; Vitamin A.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Colitis, Ulcerative* / drug therapy
Dextran Sulfate
Dietary Supplements
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Gastrointestinal Microbiome*
Mice
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
Vitamin A

Substances

RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
Vitamin A
Dextran Sulfate