Reinforcement of intestinal epithelial barrier by arabinoxylans in overweight and obese subjects: A randomized controlled trial: Arabinoxylans in gut barrier.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Obesity and metabolic diseases are associated with alterations in microbial composition and impaired gut barrier. Previous in vitro and animal studies have shown that arabinoxylans (AX) have the potential to modulate gut microbiota and gut barrier and therefore could have a protective role. Primary aim of the study was to investigate the effect of AX on intestinal permeability. Secondary aims included the effect of AX on gene transcription and protein expression of tight junctions (TJ), intestinal microbiota composition and activity, immune response and metabolic markers in overweight and obese individuals. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 47 overweight subjects were randomly assigned to groups receiving 7.5 g/d AX (n = 16), 15 g/d AX (n = 17) or 15 g/d placebo (n = 14) for 6 wks. Intestinal permeability was investigated using a multi-sugar test. Sigmoid colon tissue was obtained from a subgroup (n = 26) for analyzing gene transcription and mucosal expression of TJ proteins. Fecal samples were collected to assess microbial composition and activity. Furthermore, the production of cytokines by stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was examined. Blood was also sampled for measuring metabolic markers. RESULTS: No significant changes in gastrointestinal permeability and TJ protein expression were observed after 6 wks AX supplementation compared to placebo. However, gene transcription of occludin was upregulated in the 7.5 g AX group, and transcription of claudin-3 and claudin-4 were upregulated in the 15 g AX group compared to placebo. Furthermore, fecal microbiota diversity was decreased after 6 wks 15 g AX treatment, but no change in relative abundance of dominant phyla was observed. AX intake significantly decreased fecal pH and increased fecal concentrations of total SCFAs, acetate, propionate and butyrate, compared to placebo. Additionally, a decreased TNFα production by stimulated PBMCs was observed after 15 g AX treatment. No changes in metabolic markers were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Regular consumption of AX resulted in a more beneficial fermentation profile in overweight and obese individuals. Further studies are required to assess whether such fermentation profile will translate into improved gut barrier function and immune health. The trial has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with study ID number NCT01877044.

Randomized clinical trial on the efficacy of hesperidin 2S on validated cardiovascular biomarkers in healthy overweight individuals.

BACKGROUND: Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is involved in the development of atherosclerosis. Hesperidin, a citrus flavonoid with antioxidant and other biological properties, potentially exerts beneficial effects on endothelial function (EF). OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effect of hesperidin 2S supplementation on EF in overweight individuals. DESIGN: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in which 68 individuals were randomly assigned to receive hesperidin 2S (450 mg/d) or a placebo for 6 wk. At baseline and after 6 wk of intervention, flow-mediated dilation (FMD), soluble vascular adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were assessed. Acute, reversible ED was induced by intake of a high-fat meal (HFM). A second FMD scan was performed 2 h postprandially, and adhesion molecules were assessed 2 and 4 h postprandially. An additional exploratory analysis was performed in subjects with baseline FMD ≥3%. RESULTS: No significant change in fasting or postprandial FMD was observed after 6 wk of hesperidin intake compared with placebo intake. However, there was a trend for a reduction of sVCAM-1, sICAM-1, sP-selectin, SBP, and DBP after 6 wk of hesperidin treatment. In the FMD ≥3% group, hesperidin protected individuals from postprandial ED (P = 0.050) and significantly downregulated sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 (all P ≤ 0.030). The results reported in the current article were not adjusted for multiplicity. CONCLUSIONS: Six weeks of consumption of hesperidin 2S did not improve basal or postprandial FMD in our total study population. There was a tendency toward a reduction of adhesion molecules and a decrease in SBP and DBP. Further exploratory analyses revealed that, in subjects with baseline FMD ≥3%, hesperidin 2S improved ED after an HFM and reduced adhesion molecules. These results indicate the cardiovascular health benefits of hesperidin 2S in overweight and obese individuals with a relatively healthy endothelium. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02228291.

Temporal trends and variability of colonoscopy performance in a gastroenterology practice.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM: Quality measures for colonoscopy are operator dependent and vary. It is unclear whether quality measures change over time. In this study, time-dependent variation in colonoscopy performance was examined in a gastroenterology practice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Colonoscopy and histopathology records that were collected at three hospitals (one university and two non-university hospitals) over three time periods (2007, 2010, and 2013) were reviewed. Data from colonoscopists performing at least 100 procedures per year were analyzed. Inter-colonoscopist variation in performance (i. e. adjusted cecal intubation rate [aCIR], adenoma detection rate [ADR], advanced ADR, mean adenomas per procedure [MAP], proximal ADR, nonpolypoid ADR, and serrated polyp detection rate) were examined using coefficients of variation. Logistic regression analyses were also performed, adjusting for covariates. RESULTS: A total of 23 colonoscopists performing 6400 procedures were included. Overall, the mean aCIR, ADR, MAP, and proximal ADR improved significantly over time, from 91.9 %, 22.5 %, 0.37, and 10.2 % in 2007 to 95.3 %, 25.8 %, 0.45, and 13.4 %, respectively, in 2013 (P < 0.05). The inter-colonoscopist variation in ADR decreased from 37 % in 2007 to 15 % in 2013 (P < 0.05). In the non-university hospitals, mean values for quality measures increased significantly over time, whereas they remained stable in the university hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Variability in performance among colonoscopists decreased significantly within the gastroenterology clinical practice. Core quality measures improved over time, mainly through improvement of the lower performers. Measurement of inter-colonoscopist variation in performance helps to identify factors that stimulate or hinder performance, and forms the basis for interventions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: http://www.trialregister.nl.