Short-term pectin-enriched smoothie consumption has beneficial effects on the gut microbiota of low-fiber consumers

Susan Pihelgas; Kristel Ehala-Aleksejev; Rain Kuldjärv; Ann Jõeleht; Jekaterina Kazantseva; Kaarel Adamberg

doi:10.1093/femsmc/xtae001

Short-term pectin-enriched smoothie consumption has beneficial effects on the gut microbiota of low-fiber consumers

FEMS Microbes. 2024 Feb 2:5:xtae001. doi: 10.1093/femsmc/xtae001. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Susan Pihelgas^{1

2}, Kristel Ehala-Aleksejev¹, Rain Kuldjärv¹, Ann Jõeleht¹, Jekaterina Kazantseva¹, Kaarel Adamberg^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ TFTAK, Mäealuse 2/4B, 12618 Tallinn, Estonia.
² School of Natural Sciences and Health, Tallinn University, Narva mnt 25, 10120 Tallinn, Estonia.
³ Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech), Akadeemia tee 15, 12618 Tallinn, Estonia.

Abstract

Adequate consumption of fiber has a positive effect on health. The crossover study examined the effect of a pectin-enriched smoothie on gut microbiota and health parameters. During 3 weeks, 31 adults consumed two smoothies (11.6 or 4.8 g of fiber/day), alternating with washout periods in different order. At the end of each period, weekly food diaries, blood samples, and stool microbiota were collected. Changes in the microbiota during smoothie consumption were associated with baseline fiber intake. A greater proportion of up- (Lachnospira, Colidextribacter, and Bacteroides) or down-shifts (Streptococcus, Holdemanella) was observed in low-fiber (n = 22) compared to high-fiber consumers (n = 9). In both groups, the pectin-enriched smoothie reduced the number of the Ruminococcus torques group bacteria. Our results showed that the short-term approach is effective to estimate relationships between food components and gut bacteria.

Keywords: 16S rRNA sequencing; dietary fibre; gut microbiota; intervention trial; pectin.