Femi Olawale, Sanmi E Alake, Ranjitha Chandrashekar, Proapa Islam, Brooke Sutton, Nathan Chaffin, Chinemerem H Ugo, Jong Beom Jin, Stanley Lightfoot, Jean Debédat, Anthony Schilmiller, Winyoo Chowanadisai, Trina A Knotts, Brenda J Smith, Edralin A Lucas
{"title":"Pinto bean supplementation modulates gut microbiota and improves markers of gut integrity in a mouse model of estrogen deficiency.","authors":"Femi Olawale, Sanmi E Alake, Ranjitha Chandrashekar, Proapa Islam, Brooke Sutton, Nathan Chaffin, Chinemerem H Ugo, Jong Beom Jin, Stanley Lightfoot, Jean Debédat, Anthony Schilmiller, Winyoo Chowanadisai, Trina A Knotts, Brenda J Smith, Edralin A Lucas","doi":"10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.07.008","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Emerging research suggests that changes in gut microbiota play a key role in menopause-related diseases by modulating gut health.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study investigated the effects of pinto bean (PB) supplementation on gut integrity in an estrogen-deficient mouse model.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Sixty 3-m-old female C57BL/6J mice were injected with either sesame oil (vehicle) or vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD, 160 mg/kg) for 30 d to induce estrogen deficiency. Mice were then randomly assigned to two dietary groups (n=15/group): control (AIN-93M) or AIN-93M + 10% (wt/wt) PB for 16 wks. Ovarian failure was confirmed by uterine weight and serum FSH. Gut health was assessed by measuring tight junction proteins, β-glucuronidase activity, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and 16S microbiota composition. PB was evaluated for its estrogenic effects by molecular docking analysis of the identified polyphenols against ER-α and ER-β. Data were analyzed by 2-way ANOVA, with estrogen status (VCD) and diet as factors followed by post hoc tests when significant (P<0.05) interaction effect was observed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>VCD significantly (P<sub>VCD</sub>< 0.05) reduced relative uterine weight (∼35%) and increased serum FSH (∼60%), confirming estrogen reduction. PB restored jejunal Cldn1 (P<sub>diet x VCD</sub><0.05) in VCD-treated mice and significantly increased (P<sub>diet</sub>=0.010) β-glucuronidase activity (∼25%). PB enriched some beneficial bacteria genera (i.e., Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Dubosiella and Lactobacillus) and increased fecal acetic, propionic, n-butyric and total SCFAs by 2-fold compared to those on the control diet. Molecular docking analysis identified sinapic and ferulic acid as phytoestrogens in PB with high binding affinity for estrogen receptors.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>PB supplementation improves gut microbial diversity and integrity in estrogen deficiency, offering potential benefits for menopause-related gut health.</p>","PeriodicalId":16620,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Nutrition","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.07.008","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"NUTRITION & DIETETICS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Emerging research suggests that changes in gut microbiota play a key role in menopause-related diseases by modulating gut health.
Objective: This study investigated the effects of pinto bean (PB) supplementation on gut integrity in an estrogen-deficient mouse model.
Methods: Sixty 3-m-old female C57BL/6J mice were injected with either sesame oil (vehicle) or vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD, 160 mg/kg) for 30 d to induce estrogen deficiency. Mice were then randomly assigned to two dietary groups (n=15/group): control (AIN-93M) or AIN-93M + 10% (wt/wt) PB for 16 wks. Ovarian failure was confirmed by uterine weight and serum FSH. Gut health was assessed by measuring tight junction proteins, β-glucuronidase activity, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and 16S microbiota composition. PB was evaluated for its estrogenic effects by molecular docking analysis of the identified polyphenols against ER-α and ER-β. Data were analyzed by 2-way ANOVA, with estrogen status (VCD) and diet as factors followed by post hoc tests when significant (P<0.05) interaction effect was observed.
Results: VCD significantly (PVCD< 0.05) reduced relative uterine weight (∼35%) and increased serum FSH (∼60%), confirming estrogen reduction. PB restored jejunal Cldn1 (Pdiet x VCD<0.05) in VCD-treated mice and significantly increased (Pdiet=0.010) β-glucuronidase activity (∼25%). PB enriched some beneficial bacteria genera (i.e., Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Dubosiella and Lactobacillus) and increased fecal acetic, propionic, n-butyric and total SCFAs by 2-fold compared to those on the control diet. Molecular docking analysis identified sinapic and ferulic acid as phytoestrogens in PB with high binding affinity for estrogen receptors.
Conclusions: PB supplementation improves gut microbial diversity and integrity in estrogen deficiency, offering potential benefits for menopause-related gut health.
期刊介绍：
The Journal of Nutrition (JN/J Nutr) publishes peer-reviewed original research papers covering all aspects of experimental nutrition in humans and other animal species; special articles such as reviews and biographies of prominent nutrition scientists; and issues, opinions, and commentaries on controversial issues in nutrition. Supplements are frequently published to provide extended discussion of topics of special interest.
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