Food & Function最新文献

{"title":"A dietary switch from a high fat to a low fat diet mitigates obesity-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction in mice: implications for pancreatic carcinogenesis.","authors":"Jazmin Machuca, Joanna Wirkus, Aya S Ead, Crystal Y Cheon, Gerardo G Mackenzie, Patricia I Oteiza","doi":"10.1039/d5fo02372f","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5fo02372f","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Consumption of high-fat diets (HFD) is linked to increased intestinal permeability and metabolic endotoxemia, which may contribute to pancreatic cancer development. We previously showed that 8-week HFD consumption altered intestinal barrier structure and function, leading to metabolic endotoxemia, higher pancreatic TLR4 expression, and accelerated pancreatic acinar-to-ductal metaplasia. Furthermore, we recently documented that a dietary switch from a HFD to a low-fat control diet (CD) ameliorates pancreatic carcinogenesis. In this study, we investigated if switching from a HFD to a CD could restore intestinal barrier integrity and function in the context of pancreatic carcinogenesis. Male and female <i>LSL-Kras</i>^<i>G12D</i>; <i>p48-Cre</i> (KC) mice were weaned at 5 weeks and fed either a CD (11% kcal from fat) or a HFD (HF; 60% kcal from fat) for 8 weeks. At 13 weeks, half of the HFD-fed mice continued on the HFD, while others switched to the CD for an additional 13 weeks. Consumption of a HFD during 21 weeks led to: (i) an increase in body weight; (ii) disruption in tight junction (TJ) structure and function; (iii) higher colonic TLR4 expression and activation of downstream signaling, <i>i.e.</i> NF-κB and ERK1/2, involved in inflammation and TJ opening; (iv) higher colonic NOX1/NOX2 and iNOS gene expression; (v) higher MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity; (vi) and higher pancreatic TLR4 expression. Switching from a high-fat to a low-fat diet mitigated HFD-associated intestinal damage, reversing all altered parameters except colonic NOX1 and NOX2 mRNA levels. In conclusion, a nutritional intervention reducing fat consumption improves intestinal barrier integrity and decreases metabolic endotoxemia offering a promising approach to mitigate obesity-associated pancreatic cancer development.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144635690","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A casein-derived peptide exerted immunomodulatory effects by targeting protein phosphatase 1-catalytic subunit alpha: a potential alternative to combat infections.","authors":"Jinyang Cai, Shanshan Wang, Lamei Wu, Xinyue Liu, Yan Cao","doi":"10.1039/d5fo01386k","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5fo01386k","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Antibiotic resistance is a growing global threat to the effective treatment of bacterial infections, therefore, novel therapeutic alternatives need to be developed urgently. We recently reported that BCCY-1, a peptide derived from human β-casein, displayed regulatory effects on innate immune responses. The aim of this study was to identify the cellular target and unveil the molecular mechanism of BCCY-1 that mediated these effects. Here, we demonstrated that the chemokine induction activity of peptide BCCY-1 relied on the integrity of its amino acid sequence which was attributed to its binding affinity for protein phosphatase 1 catalytic subunit alpha (PP1A). BCCY-1 could inhibit the PP1A-mediated dephosphorylation and thus promote activation of the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways, as well as downstream chemokine expression in THP-1 cells, both of which were significantly reversed by PP1 activation. Moreover, tautomycin, a chemical inhibitor of PP1A, mimicked the effects of BCCY-1 on the immune response by monocytes. BCCY-1 as well as tautomycin enhanced the recruitment of innate myeloid cells to the site of infection, eventually contributing to bacterial clearance <i>in vivo</i>. This study would broaden the understanding of milk-derived immunomodulatory peptides in preventing and treating infectious diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144625026","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phytosterol-mediated disturbance of the lipid packing order in the plasma membrane regulates inflammatory response.","authors":"Xiuxiu Wang, Ya Liu, Fangling Du, Aizhen Zong, Tongcheng Xu","doi":"10.1039/d5fo01767j","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5fo01767j","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>While phytosterols have been widely reported for their anti-inflammatory effects, the precise biophysical mechanisms underlying their regulation of inflammatory responses remain largely unexplored. Our study demonstrates that phytosterols exhibit anti-inflammation effects in a structure-independent way. Quantitative analyses confirm that phytosterols are incorporated into lipid bilayers with varying efficacy, significantly disrupting the lipid packing order and mechanical properties of the cell membrane. This structural perturbation impairs the translocation of the p67^phox subunit to the cell membrane, thereby inhibiting the activity of NADPH oxidase (NOX). Consequently, this leads to a reduction in NOX-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and subsequent downregulation of NLRP3 inflammasome expression. Simulation results indicate that the incorporation of phytosterols increases the distance between adjacent molecules in the phospholipid bilayer, which may represent a potential mechanism underlying the increased fluidity of the cell membrane. In summary, this work provides novel insights into the bioactivity of phytosterols and highlights the significance of the physical properties of the cell membrane in regulating cellular activity.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144625027","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dietary freeze-dried beer prevents inflammation in DSS-induced chronic ulcerative colitis in mice.","authors":"María Paredes-Sánchez, Rocío Muñoz-García, Javier Ávila-Román, Ana Lobo-Prieto, María Del Mar Orta-Cuevas, Diego L García-González, Victoria Vázquez-Román, Elena Talero, Marina Sánchez-Hidalgo","doi":"10.1039/d5fo01043h","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5fo01043h","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a complex condition that is influenced by numerous factors, including genetic, immune and environmental factors. In the search for new therapies, nutritional interventions including dietary polyphenols are becoming increasingly important in the management of IBD. The present study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of commercial freeze-dried beer, an interesting product resulting from the fermentation of cereals, rich in polyphenols, in (I) an <i>in vitro</i> model of inflammation using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated THP-1 human derived macrophages and (II) a murine dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced chronic colitis model, for elucidating the action mechanism involved. According to the results, commercial freeze-dried beer exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties in LPS-stimulated THP-1 human macrophages by reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 levels. Moreover, <i>in vivo</i> results showed that preventive treatment with dietary freeze-dried beer improved murine DSS-induced chronic colitis by attenuation of the clinical and histological signs of colonic damage. Colonic cytokine levels in animals fed with commercial freeze-dried beer reached values near basal levels. In addition, pro-inflammatory cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase (mPGES)-1 protein expressions were significantly downregulated <i>via</i> inhibition of nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-κB) translocation. This inhibition may be mediated by an induction of the antioxidant nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) signaling pathway and a reduction of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-3 phosphorylation orchestrating its potent anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. Overall, our results suggest that dealcoholized beer may be effective in the management of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases in which macrophages are crucial, including IBD, providing clues for developing useful dietary interventions against inflammation-associated pathologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144606888","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Vitamin K2 reprograms the multi-organ transcriptional landscape in mice with high-fat diet-induced obesity.","authors":"Xuanyang Wang, Yuntao Zhang, Lin Liu, Hongkun Ma, Chunbo Wei, Xiaoqing Xu, Jia Zhang, Sijia Pan, Yingfeng Zhang, Jiepeng Chen, Lili Duan, Guannan Geng, Keke Dang, Hongquan Xie, Guoliang Wang, Lin Li, Ran Li, Ying Li","doi":"10.1039/d5fo01613d","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5fo01613d","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Vitamin K2 (VK2) shows promise as a nutritional intervention for obesity-related disorders, but its mechanisms of action in obesity and associated phenotypes are not yet fully understood. This study aims to elucidate the rescue effects of VK2 on multiple tissues during obesity. Twenty-eight 8-week-old male C57BL6/N mice are divided into four groups and fed a high-fat diet or normal diet for 16 weeks, receiving either menaquinone-7 (MK-7) or soybean oil solvent <i>via</i> gavage. RNA sequencing of brain, colon, muscle, heart, kidney, and liver tissues constructed a multi-organ transcriptional profile. The \"rescue differentially expressed genes (DEGs)\" are identified and tissue-tissue communication is analyzed. VK2 improves the biochemical profile in high-fat diet-induced obesity. Following VK2 intervention, the brain and kidneys exhibit more changes in autophagy, neurodegenerative diseases, energy metabolism, and immune response pathways. VK2 rescues over 10% of abnormally expressed genes, with most being fully restored. These rescue genes exhibit tissue-specific biological effects, including neuropeptide signaling and neuron ensheathment in the brain; triglyceride metabolism and carboxylic acid catabolism in the colon; microvillus organization and vascular permeability regulation in the heart; regulation of immune processes and collagen biosynthesis in the kidney; transforming growth factor-beta receptor signaling, iron transport and homeostasis in the liver; and muscle contraction, ATP transport, and filament sliding in the muscle. VK2 eliminates elevated ligand-receptor signals in immune response pathways and promotes the tissue-tissue signaling network to approach healthy control levels. VK2 significantly rescues the multi-organ transcriptome and restores tissue-specific pathways in high-fat diet-induced obese mice, providing the molecular mechanisms countering metabolic disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144606890","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Non-pungent capsiate enhances longevity and healthspan in <i>Caenorhabditis elegans via</i> transient receptor potential (TRP) channels.","authors":"Nathan Lyttle, Mohankumar Amirthalingam, Julia Bali, Alan Yazid Chavez Hita Wong, Juan Gerardo Flores Iga, Shinkichi Tawata, Padma Nimmakayala, Umesh K Reddy","doi":"10.1039/d5fo01607j","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5fo01607j","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Capsiate, a non-pungent capsaicin analog found mainly in low-pungency cultivars of <i>Capsicum annuum</i> L., exhibits diverse pharmacological and health-promoting properties. However, despite its equipotency, it remains less extensively studied than capsaicin. Here, we systematically investigated the toxicity profile and the life- and health-promoting mechanisms of capsiate using the genetically tractable model organism <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> (<i>C. elegans</i>). Capsiate was found to be safe and exerted a concentration-dependent biphasic effect, with an optimal dose (10 μmol L^-1) enhancing stress resilience, reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and extending lifespan. Mechanistically, capsiate-mediated effects required the transient receptor potential (TRP) channels TRPA-1 (TRPA1) and OSM-9 (TRPV). Activation of TRPA-1 initiated calcium-sensitive PKC-2 signaling <i>via</i> SGK-1, which subsequently activated DAF-16/FoxO to transactivate key longevity-related targets, including <i>hsp-16.2</i> and <i>sod-3</i>. In parallel, TRPA-1 activation also recruited the CaMKII-p38 MAPK pathway, leading to SKN-1/Nrf2 nuclear localization and upregulation of gerontogenes, <i>gcs-1</i>, <i>gst-4</i>, and <i>gst-10</i>. Beyond these molecular effects, capsiate attenuated age-associated declines in learning ability, motor function, and stress resilience, highlighting its potential to promote health during aging. Together, these findings provide the first mechanistic insights into capsiate-mediated healthy lifespan extension and stress resilience in <i>C. elegans</i>, offering a promising foundation for future therapeutic strategies targeting age-related diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144606889","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular mechanisms of aberrant fatty acids metabolism in driving cardiovascular diseases: key regulatory targets and dietary interventions.","authors":"Rui Yang, Jiao Pang, Xue Zhong, Shuyang Pang, Xuefeng Hu, Chenfei Wei, Weiqi Yan, Xueting Chen, Rui Zhao, Baojun Xu, Zhipeng Cao","doi":"10.1039/d5fo01237f","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5fo01237f","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In recent years, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have emerged as one of the leading global risk factors for mortality. As the primary energy source for myocardial metabolism, alterations in fatty acid (FAs) metabolism play a crucial role in myocardial energy imbalance in patients with CVDs. These metabolic disruptions can affect vascular and myocardial cell function through various mechanisms, thereby contributing to the onset and progression of CVDs. Additionally, FAs are abundant in the daily diet, further emphasizing the importance of regulating FA metabolism as a potential therapeutic and preventive strategy for CVDs and its risk factors. This review systematically examines the relationship between the metabolism of short-chain, medium-chain, and long-chain FAs and CVDs, including atherosclerosis (AS), coronary heart disease (CHD), hypertension, arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, and heart failure (HF). It also delves into the underlying mechanisms by which these FAs influence CVD pathology. Evidence suggests that short-chain FAs (SCFAs) inhibit inflammation, reduce oxidative stress, and improve endothelial function through the activation of GPR41/43 receptors. ω-3 polyunsaturated FAs (ω-3 PUFAs) reduce CVD risk by modulating lipid metabolism, inhibiting platelet aggregation, and exerting anti-inflammatory effects, whereas ω-6 PUFAs may exacerbate disease progression due to their pro-inflammatory properties. Saturated FAs (SFAs) promote CVDs by inducing lipotoxicity, oxidative stress, and vascular remodeling. Furthermore, the imbalance of key molecules in FA metabolism, such as CD36, CPT1, PPARs, and AMPK, is closely linked to myocardial energy dysfunction, inflammation, and fibrosis. This review highlights the potential of dietary interventions-such as increased intake of ω-3 PUFAs and SCFAs-as well as the targeting of FA metabolic pathways (<i>e.g.</i>, FFARs, AMPK activators) in the prevention and treatment of CVDs. It also emphasizes the need for further clinical studies to verify the efficacy and mechanisms of these approaches. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive theoretical framework for understanding the role of FAs metabolism in CVDs and outlines directions for developing novel therapeutic strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144598947","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of vegan diets and lifestyle on adult body composition: a narrative review.","authors":"Boštjan Jakše, Nataša Fidler Mis, Zlatko Fras, Derrick R Tanous, Katharina Wirnitzer","doi":"10.1039/d5fo01876e","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5fo01876e","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The health benefits of vegan diets are well documented, though achieving nutritional adequacy requires careful planning, as is the case with any well-designed diet. Vegan diets effectively address obesity, with emerging evidence suggesting that body composition analysis offers a more accurate assessment of body weight management than traditional body mass index (BMI) calculations. This narrative review evaluates the impact of vegan diets on adult body composition based on 16 human interventional studies (published between 01/2014-10/2024), sourced from the PubMed/Medline database across various countries, including the USA, Canada, Brazil, Chile, and several European countries. Findings indicate that vegan diets can lead to greater reductions in body weight and more favourable changes in body composition compared to control diets, including high carbohydrate lacto-ovo, traditional and vegan-type Mediterranean, animal-based ketogenic, portion-controlled, therapeutic omnivorous and Western-type diets. However, some studies report significant muscle mass loss. Strategies to mitigate this include regular physical activity, particularly resistance training, ensuring sufficient protein intake and applying modest energy restrictions without compromising nutrient adequacy. Individual factors such as baseline BMI and health status also influence outcomes. This review further addresses critical real-world questions and dilemmas to deepen understanding of the relationship between vegan diet, body composition, and overall health, thus contextualizing the theme. Future research should explore whether a well-designed vegan diet, combined with customized lifestyle interventions, can further improve muscle mass preservation and overall body composition outcomes compared to other dietary lifestyles.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144598946","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>Weizmannia coagulans</i> BC99 alleviates hyperuricemia by restoring liver-kidney-gut axis dysfunction caused by hyperuricemia.","authors":"Ying Wu, Yinyin Gao, Cheng Li, Shirui Zhai, Yao Dong, Shanshan Tie, Lina Zhao, Shaobin Gu","doi":"10.1039/d5fo00951k","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5fo00951k","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hyperuricemia (HUA) has emerged as a global metabolic disorder that poses significant risks to human health. To investigate the effects and mechanisms of <i>Weizmannia coagulans</i> BC99 in alleviating hyperuricemia, we established a hyperuricemia mouse model. The results demonstrate that BC99 significantly downregulates the expression of uric acid (UA) reabsorption proteins in the kidneys and intestines, while upregulating the expression of UA excretion proteins. This modulation leads to a reduction in UA synthesis, mediated through the Nrf2/NLRP3 pathway. Additionally, BC99 intervention restored gut microbiota intestinal dysbiosis in HUA mice, increased the beneficial short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacterial genera, and corrected disturbances in amino acid, purine, and pyrimidine metabolism. Collectively, our findings suggest that BC99 exhibits strong anti-hyperuricemic effects and holds promise as a dietary supplement for lowering uric acid levels.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144582612","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparison of four characteristic carotenoids (lutein, β-carotene, lycopene, and astaxanthin) in alleviating DSS-induced colitis through gut microbiota regulation.","authors":"Yangyang Dong, Qianjin Ni, Zhi Zhang, Zhaoqing Yu, Lei Feng, Yayuan Xu, Yunhe Lian, Cunshan Zhou, Dajing Li, Zhuqing Dai","doi":"10.1039/d5fo00789e","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5fo00789e","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Carotenoids, particularly lutein, β-carotene, lycopene, and astaxanthin, possess established anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Although these compounds are known to interact with the gut microbiota and ameliorate microbial dysbiosis, their structure-activity relationships in colitis alleviation remain poorly understood. Using a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model, we made a systematic comparison of these four structurally distinct carotenoids. All treatments markedly improved colitis-associated clinical symptoms, including weight loss, colon shortening, bloody stool, and histological damage. Notably, the fecal heme content decreased by 55.00%, 69.44%, 60.22%, and 62.24% in the lutein, β-carotene, lycopene, and astaxanthin groups by the endpoint of DSS exposure, respectively. The intervention with carotenoids significantly reduced pro-inflammatory markers while upregulating intestinal tight junction proteins and short-chain fatty acid receptor expression. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed consistent suppression of <i>Bilophila</i> and <i>Mucispirillum</i> across all groups, with structure-dependent microbiota modulation: lutein enriched Rikenellaceae, β-carotene enhanced Bifidobacteriaceae, lycopene preferentially increased Lactobacillaceae, and astaxanthin elevated Akkermansiaceae (in terms of relative abundance). These findings demonstrate that carotenoids alleviate ulcerative colitis through combined anti-inflammatory, barrier-protective, and microbiota-modulating effects, with carotenes exhibiting superior microbiota modulation compared to xanthophylls.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144582613","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}