Effect of "maccog" TCM tea on improving glucolipid metabolism and gut microbiota in patients with type 2 diabetes in community.

Objectives: This work aimed to observe the effect of consuming Chinese herb tea on glucolipid metabolism and gut microbiota in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: Ninety patients with T2DM were recruited from a community and randomly divided into the control group (CG) and intervention group (IG). CG maintained conventional treatment and lifestyle, and IG accepted additional "maccog" traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) tea (mulberry leaf, radix astragali, corn stigma, cortex lycii, radix ophiopogonis, and gynostemma) for 12 weeks. Glucolipid metabolism, hepatorenal function, and gut microbiota were then measured. Results: After the intervention, the decreases in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and total cholesterol (TC) were greater (P<0.05) in IG than in CG, and those in glycosylated serum protein (GSP) were almost significantly greater (P=0.066) in IG than in CG. The total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), and creatinine (CREA) levels in IG were significantly lower and their decreases were larger in IG than in CG (P<0.05) after the intervention. The Ace and Chao1 indices in IG were slightly higher after the intervention (P=0.056 and 0.052, respectively) than at baselines. The abundance of Actinobacteria, Lachnospiraceae, Bifidobacteriaceae, and Phascolarctobacterium increased significantly after the intervention in IG (P<0.05), and the abundance was higher in IG than in CG (P<0.05 or P<0.1). The abundance of Clostridiales and Lactobacillales was negatively correlated with FPG (P<0.05), Clostridiales and Lachnospiraceae was negatively correlated with GSP (P<0.05), and Bacteroides/Firmicutes was positively correlated with both (P<0.05). No adverse event was observed during the intervention. Conclusions: Administration of "maccog" TCM tea for 12 weeks slightly improved glucolipid metabolism and significantly increased the abundance of beneficial gut microbiota in community patients with T2DM. The increase in beneficial bacteria abundance may be involved in the improvement of glucose metabolism indicators. In addition, this intervention is safe and feasible. Clinical trial registration: https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=31281, identifier ChiCTR1800018566.

Comparison of Selenium-Enriched Lactobacillusparacasei, Selenium-Enriched Yeast, and Selenite for the Alleviation of DSS-Induced Colitis in Mice.

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have been found to have decreased immune function. Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element that is beneficial for human health, which has a significant stimulating effect on immune function. We compared the effects of different Se forms on the alleviation of colitis in DSS-induced mice. Moreover, we also aimed to determine whether Se-enriched Lactobacillus paracasei CCFM 1089 could be used as a new organic Se supplement. Different Se supplements (Se-enriched L. paracasei CCFM 1089, Se-enriched yeast and sodium selenite) were given to Se-deficient mice suffering from colitis. Se-enriched L. paracasei CCFM 1089, which is based on selenocysteine (SeCys), had similar effects in terms of reducing oxidative stress and inhibiting pro-inflammatory factors to Se-enriched yeast; however, selenase activity in the Se-enriched L. paracasei CCFM 1089-treated mice was higher than that in other treatment groups. In addition, Se-enriched L. paracasei CCFM 1089 could better protect the intestinal mucosa, which increased the expression of tight junction proteins (ZO-1 and occludin) in mice. Thus Se-enriched L. paracasei CCFM 1089 was shown to alleviate IBD, suggesting that it has potential as a good organic Se supplement.

Effects of Zn-Enriched Bifidobacterium longum on the Growth and Reproduction of Rats.

Zn is an essential trace element required for maintaining normal growth and development. Zn deficiency can cause growth retardation and reproductive system dysplasia, while Zn supplementation for treating Zn deficiency requires the use of high-quality Zn preparations. In this study, Bifidobacterium longum CCFM1195 was screened for its high Zn enrichment capacity, and the effects of different Zn supplementation regimens and doses on the growth and development of rats after Zn supplementation were investigated by supplementing Zn-deficient rat pups with different doses of various Zn supplements (ZnO, CCFM1195 + ZnO, and Zn-enriched CCFM1195). It was shown that the bioavailability of Zn was positively correlated with indicators of recovery after Zn supplementation, with Zn-enriched CCFM1195 having the best effect, followed by CCFM1195 + ZnO, while ZnO had the worst effect. Significant differences were also observed between the gut microbiota of control, model, and Zn-supplemented rats. Overall, administration of Zn-enriched CCFM1195 was more effective than the other approaches in restoring physical indicators of Zn deficiency after Zn supplementation, and this advantage was more significant at low-dose Zn supplementation.

Synergistic Protective Effects of Different Dietary Supplements Against Type 2 Diabetes via Regulating Gut Microbiota.

Diabetes mellitus is a global health problem, and its prevalence continues to increase. Dietary supplements, including probiotics, prebiotics, and plant extracts, have been shown to alleviate diabetes. In this study, the synergistic effects of two types of dietary supplements were investigated in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Sixty mice were divided into the following six groups: control, model (induced by a high-fat diet and intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin), drug (metformin), probiotic (Lactobacillus spp.), formula A (probiotics, plant extracts, and soybean peptide), and formula B (probiotics, prebiotics, and soybean peptide). All three dietary interventions (probiotic, formula A, and formula B groups) significantly reduced the blood glucose level and oral glucose tolerance level and effectively improved some biochemical parameters (e.g., chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and blood lipid level) and regulated gut microbiota. Notably, formula B exhibited a better ability on reducing the blood glucose level, regulating the gut microbiota, and increasing the short-chain fatty acid levels compared with the probiotics alone and formula A. Thus, formula B may exert synergistic protective effects against T2DM through a mechanism involving probiotics and prebiotics of gut microbiota regulation. This study provides a theoretical basis for the application of probiotic dietary supplements to the treatment of T2DM.

Factors Influencing Selenium Concentration in Community-Dwelling Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Selenium (Se) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetes, and which factors affecting Se concentration in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are unknown. This study aimed to explore the factors influencing Se concentration in community-dwelling individuals with T2DM. A total of 176 patients with T2DM were involved, and their general information was collected through a self-designed questionnaire. Venous blood samples and hair samples were collected to detect Se concentration and biochemical parameters. Multiple linear regression and binary logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the factors influencing Se concentration in patients with T2DM. The factors influencing selenoprotein P concentration in patients with T2DM included alkaline phosphatase (ß = - 1.373; 95% CI: 0.087-0.736; P = 0.012), systolic blood pressure (SBP; ß = - 0.047; 95% CI: 0.930-0.978; P < 0.001), the duration of T2DM (ß = - 0.074; 95% CI: 0.877-0.983; P = 0.011), and clinical complications (ß = 1.237; 95% CI: 1.465-8.109; P = 0.005). The factors influencing glutathione peroxidase activity in patients with T2DM were creatinine (CREA; ß = - 0.378; P < 0.001), uric acid (ß = - 0.069; P = 0.009), body mass index (ß = - 2.177; P = 0.002), SBP (ß = - 0.275; P = 0.031), and medical payment (ß = 29.160; P < 0.001). The factors influencing serum Se concentration in patients with T2DM were albumin (ß = - 1.391; 95% CI: 0.065-0.959; P = 0.043) and CREA (ß = - 1.482; 95% CI: 0.072-0.718; P = 0.012). The factors influencing hair Se concentration in patients with T2DM were smoking (ß = - 1.151; 95% CI: 0.133-0.755; P = 0.010), drinking (ß = 1.366; 95% CI: 1.191-12.909; P = 0.025), and hair dyeing (ß = - 1.113; 95% CI: 0.124-0.867; P = 0.025). In conclusion, the Se concentration in patients with T2DM was mainly affected by liver and renal function. When liver and/or renal function was impaired, the Se concentration in patients with T2DM was decreased.

Selenium Levels in Community Dwellers with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient required by the human body and exerts biological functions through selenoproteins. The relationship between Se and diabetes remains ambiguous. This study aimed at, through measurements of serum selenoprotein P (SelP), glutathione peroxidase (GPx3), and Se content in serum and hair, evaluating Se levels in community dwellers with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A total of 336 subjects, including 176 T2DM patients (65.5 ± 8.7 years old) and 160 healthy residents (63.7 ± 9.8 years old, as controls), were recruited in this cross-sectional community-based study performed in Suzhou. Samples of fasting venous blood and hair were collected for measurements of Se levels, glycometabolism, and biochemistry parameters. We found that the serum Se level and SelP concentration in T2DM patients were substantially higher than those in healthy residents (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in GPx3 activity and hair Se level between the two groups of subjects (p > 0.05). Serum Se was positively correlated with both GPx3 and hair Se in T2DM patients (r = 0.167 and 0.164, respectively, p < 0.05) and negatively correlated with SelP in healthy controls (r = - 0.293, p < 0.05). In conclusion, this study showed significantly higher levels of serum Se and SelP in community dwellers with T2DM than in matched healthy residents.