Sea buckthorn berries have been reported to have beneficial effects on plasma lipid profile and cardiovascular health. This study aimed to investigate the impact of intervention with sea buckthorn berry puree on plasma metabolomics profile and gut microbiota in hypercholesterolemic subjects. A total of 56 subjects with hypercholesterolemia consumed 90 g of sea buckthorn berry puree daily for 90 days, and plasma metabolomic profile was studied at 0 (baseline), 45, and 90 days of intervention by using proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR). Gut microbiota composition was analyzed at the baseline and after 90 days of supplementation by using high-throughput sequencing. The plasma metabolic profile was significantly altered after 45 days of intervention as compared to the baseline (day 0). A clear trend of returning to the baseline metabolomic profile was observed in plasma when the intervention extended from 45 days to 90 days. Despite this, the levels of several key plasma metabolites such as glucose, lactate, and creatine were lowered at day 90 compared to the baseline levels, suggesting an improved energy metabolism in those patients. In addition, intervention with sea buckthorn puree enriched butyrate-producing bacteria and other gut microbes linked to lipid metabolisms such as Prevotella and Faecalibacterium while depleting Parasutterella associated with increased risks of cardiovascular disease. These findings indicate that sea buckthorn berries have potential in modulating energy metabolism and the gut microbiota composition in hypercholesterolemic patients.
Keywords: Hippophaë rhamnoides; gut microbiota; hypercholesterolemia population; plasma metabolomic profile; sea buckthorn berries.