Food & Function最新文献

{"title":"Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BLa80 alleviates constipation in mice through modulating the stem cell factor (SCF)/c-Kit pathway and the gut microbiota†","authors":"Zhaochun Zhang, Jie Li, Ziyi Wan, Shuguang Fang, Yunjiao Zhao, Qian Li and Min Zhang","doi":"10.1039/D4FO06350C","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4FO06350C","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Probiotics, as health ingredients, have attracted widespread attention. However, due to the wide variety of probiotic species, their laxative effects and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we investigated the laxative effect of <em>Bifidobacterium animalis</em> subsp. <em>lactis</em> BLa80 (at concentrations of 1.0 × 10<small>⁸</small>, 2.0 × 10<small>⁸</small>, and 4.0 × 10<small>⁸</small> CFU per mL, with a dosage of 0.2 mL each) in mice, utilizing a functional constipation mouse model induced with loperamide hydrochloride (0.2 mL, 10 mg per kg BW) for 7 consecutive days. Meanwhile, a blank group (treated with 0.2 mL of 0.9% saline) and a positive control group (treated with mosapride at a dose of 5 mg per kg BW) were also set up. The body weight, fecal water content, intestinal propulsion rate, colon tissue histology, fecal microbial composition, serum indices, and colon mRNA levels of the mice were measured, employing histological and biochemical assays, GC-MS, RT-qPCR and 16S rRNA gene sequencing <em>etc</em>. Results showed BLa80 could accelerate intestinal peristalsis, maintain fecal moisture, prevent intestinal barrier disruption, increase short-chain fatty acid production, prevent gut microbe dysbiosis and constipation in mice. It also helped to keep the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), motilin (MTL), and substance P (SP) normal, up-regulated the mRNAs of intestinal mucin 2 (MUC2), stem cell factor (SCF), and the tyrosine kinase receptor c-Kit, and down-regulated the mRNA of aquaporins (AQPs), especially at a high-dose. This study indicated that BLa80 held the potential to emerge as a novel ingredient in functional foods designed for constipation relief and as a treatment alternative.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" 6","pages":" 2347-2362"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143481784","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":"Alleviation of hyperglycaemia and oxidative stress by fruit extracts of different cultivars of the cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L. and Cornus mas × Cornus officinalis) in rats with diabetes mellitus†","authors":"Iryna Brodyak, Anna Moroz, Karolina Bernacka, Alicja Z. Kucharska and Nataliia Sybirna","doi":"10.1039/D4FO05426A","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4FO05426A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The development of new cornelian cherry cultivars with stronger antidiabetic properties than those of previously studied <em>Cornus mas</em> L. extracts is essential. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to assess the biological effects of fruit extracts derived from the ‘Uholok’ and ‘Koralovyi’ cultivars of <em>C. mas</em> and mix of two hybrids of <em>C. mas</em> × <em>C. officinalis</em> (‘Jerzy’ and ‘Tomasz’ cultivars) in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus. The quantitative and qualitative identification of bioactive substances in cornelian cherry fruits was conducted using HPLC-PDA. Fruit extracts from different cultivars were administered orally to rats with diabetes for 14 days at a dose of 20 mg per kg b.w. This resulted in a notable decrease in glucose-related parameters in the blood, proving the extracts’ effectiveness as inhibitors of α-glucosidase activity. The fruit extract from the hybrids showed the most pronounced effect among the studied extracts with regard to these indicators. In addition, the fruit extracts demonstrated a positive corrective impact on the metabolites of glycolysis (pyruvate and <small>L</small>-lactate) and lactate dehydrogenase activity. The extracts produced antioxidant effect in diabetic rats by reducing oxidative stress biomarkers in plasma. Extracts from fruits of the ‘Uholok’ and ‘Koralovyi’ cultivars exhibited a higher efficiency than the extracts from <em>C. mas</em> ‘Yantarnyi’ and ‘Flava’ cultivars. The biological effects of the fruit extract from the ‘Uholok’ cultivar are comparable to those of the ‘Podolski’ cultivar. These findings contribute to the understanding of the antidiabetic effect of the studied extracts and indicate their potential application as promising drugs.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" 5","pages":" 2136-2155"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143466479","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 fermented wheat germ on the placenta of high-fat diet-induced obese maternal rats: morphology, metabolism, and nutrient transport†","authors":"Xiaolin Li, Yingyu Zhao and Jihong Huang","doi":"10.1039/D4FO05828C","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4FO05828C","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Maternal obesity impairs placental function, affecting fetal growth and long-term health. Although fermented wheat germ (FWG) provides health benefits, its impact on maternal obesity-related metabolic disorders and placental function remains unclear. This study investigated FWG's effects on placental morphology, metabolism, and nutrient transport in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese maternal rats. Wheat germ (WG) and FWG were administered from model induction, with a 45% HFD-fed for 10 weeks before conception and continued until gestational day 19.5. Results revealed that WG and FWG supplementation alleviated maternal metabolic abnormalities and mitigated placental structural damage. Additionally, this supplementation reduced placental lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, and inflammation while regulating nutrient transporter mRNA expression and inhibiting mTOR signaling activation. Compared with WG, FWG more effectively reduced maternal obesity and optimized placental nutrient transport. These findings suggest that FWG is a promising dietary intervention for disrupting the maternal obesity cycle and enhancing maternal–fetal health by alleviating obesity, mitigating metabolic dysfunction, and modulating placental morphology and function.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" 6","pages":" 2303-2315"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143466481","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":"Gut microbiota modulation and inflammation mitigation in a murine model through a hull-less and purple grain barley genotype†","authors":"María-Engracia Cortijo-Alfonso, Houda Laghouaouta, Ramona N. Pena, Mariona Martínez, Silvia Yuste, Laura Rubió-Piqué and Carme Piñol-Felis","doi":"10.1039/D4FO05524A","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4FO05524A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Barley, increasingly recognized for its health benefits, contains bioactive compounds like beta-glucans and (poly)phenols. Newly developed purple barley varieties, enriched with anthocyanins, offer potential gut health benefits. This study examined the effects of a hull-less, purple-grain barley genotype, consumed as whole-grain or isolated fractions (bran and endosperm), on gut microbiota and inflammation in a murine model. Fifty male and female BALB/cB&amp;J mice were assigned to five diets over six weeks: standard diet (SD), rice diet (RD), whole-grain barley (WGB), anthocyanin-rich barley bran (BB), and beta-glucan-rich endosperm (PG). The BB diet triggered anti-inflammatory signals as it reduced IFN-γ and IL-4 in females, lowered TNF-α in both sexes, and decreased C-Reactive Protein (CRP) in males compared to SD. The PG diet improved gut barrier integrity by lowering LPS-binding protein levels. Barley-based diets enhanced gut microbiota diversity, particularly, by increasing beneficial bacteria like <em>Lactobacillus</em>, <em>Lachnospiraceae UCG-001</em>, and <em>Akkermansia</em>. Notably, BB and PG elicited stronger effects than WGB, suggesting that grain fractionation modifies the food matrix, potentially enhancing the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of key bioactive compounds. These results underscore the benefits of purple barley-derived fractions in promoting gut health and reducing inflammation, supporting their potential role to protect against inflammation-related conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" 6","pages":" 2389-2400"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/fo/d4fo05524a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143490168","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A comparative study on the protein digestion of four different soy beverages: effects of the composition, microstructure, and protein digestibility evaluation method†","authors":"Junna Zhao, Xiangzhen Kong, Caimeng Zhang, Yufei Hua, Yeming Chen and Xingfei Li","doi":"10.1039/D4FO03919J","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4FO03919J","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The increased consumption of soy-based products leads to the incentive for more sustainable soybean processing and more accurate nutritional evaluation. The protein structures and aggregation states of different components vary with different soy products, but their relationship with digestibility is unclear. In order to study the digestion of soy protein in complex food matrices, four soy-based beverages were carefully prepared, including whole component soy beverage (WS), soy beverage with insoluble soybean residue removed (DO-WS), soy beverage with lipids removed (DL-WS), and soy protein isolate beverage (HSPI). During digestion, the microstructure revealed that particles of all soy beverages were reduced and more evenly distributed, but striated fibres (in WS and DL-WS) still remained after digestion. Tricine-SDS-PAGE profiles showed that after <em>in vitro</em> gastrointestinal digestion of the four beverages, almost all the bands corresponding to the complete proteins from soy disappeared, leaving fewer visible bands with a low MW – below 12 kDa. <em>In vitro</em> protein digestibility analyzed by TCA precipitation (strategy B), which ranged from 64.24% to 68.70%, was more accurate, with peptides of MW &lt;1 kDa accounting for over 84% for all the four digested fractions. Moreover, the highest values of <em>in vitro</em> DIAAS (96/80) and digestible protein (29.40/24.41 g per 100 g of soybeans) were achieved by WS. Characterization of the insoluble digesta further elucidated that peptides with a smaller MW (below 12 kDa) and a higher amount of hydrophobic amino acids aggregated more easily, resulting in the occurrence of precipitates and the relatively lower <em>in vitro</em> protein digestibility. This research contributes to the understanding of protein digestibility in whole legume-based diets, which in turn could aid in the development of new whole legume products and more efficient utilization of proteins.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" 6","pages":" 2262-2278"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143539678","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":"Development of 3D-printed foods incorporating riboflavin-loaded whey protein isolate nanostructures: characterization and in vitro digestion†","authors":"João F. Araújo, Jean-Michel Fernandes, Daniel Madalena, Raquel F. S. Gonçalves, Jorge M. Vieira, Joana T. Martins, António A. Vicente and Ana C. Pinheiro","doi":"10.1039/D4FO05102E","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4FO05102E","url":null,"abstract":"<p >3D printing has emerged as a groundbreaking technology, aiming to enhance sensory attributes and improving nutritional/functional aspects. Simultaneously, nano-delivery systems have emerged as an opportunity to protect bioactive compounds against degradation and improve their bioaccessibility. Therefore, a novel concept is underway, involving the 3D printing of perishable healthy foods previously fortified with bioactive compound-loaded nanostructures. As a model concept, whey protein isolate (WPI) nanostructures were associated with riboflavin with an efficiency of 59.2%. Carrot pastes with adequate printability, shape retention and rheological characteristics were formulated. Riboflavin-WPI loaded nanostructures were incorporated into carrot inks and submitted to a static <em>in vitro</em> digestion. There was a notable increase in riboflavin bioaccessibility (+23.1%), suggesting a synergistic interaction between WPI nanostructures and carrot matrix. These results may contribute to validating the use of WPI nanostructures as effective encapsulating systems allied with 3D food printing towards the development of functional foods with personalized structure and nutrition profile.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" 5","pages":" 2124-2135"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/fo/d4fo05102e?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143456368","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Grape pomace extract attenuates high fat diet-induced endotoxemia and liver steatosis in mice†","authors":"V. Muscia Saez, D. J. Perdicaro, E. Cremonini, V. V. Costantino, A. R. Fontana, P. I. Oteiza and M. A. Vazquez Prieto","doi":"10.1039/D4FO06332E","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4FO06332E","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Obesity is a prominent global health concern associated with chronic inflammation and metabolic disorders, such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Excessive consumption of saturated fats exacerbates these conditions by increasing intestinal barrier permeability and circulating endotoxins. This study aims to investigate, in a murine model of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity, the potential beneficial effects of a grape pomace extract (GPE), rich in phenolic compounds, at mitigating endotoxemia, and liver steatosis. Underlying mechanisms were characterized in an <em>in vitro</em> model of intestinal inflammation and permeabilization, as induced by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) in Caco-2 cell monolayers. Consumption of a HFD (60% calories from fat) for 13 weeks induced obesity, insulin resistance, and liver damage, evidenced by higher levels of plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT), hepatic triglycerides content, and steatosis. In addition, HFD caused metabolic endotoxemia, hepatic toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) upregulation and inflammation. GPE supplementation significantly reduced body weight and subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue weight, and attenuated metabolic dysregulation. Furthermore, GPE decreased circulating LPS levels and mitigated HFD-mediated hepatic TLR4 upregulation, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation, and downstream expression of proteins involved in oxidative stress and inflammation (NOX4, TNFα, and F4/80). In Caco-2 cells, GPE mitigated TNFα-induced monolayer permeabilization, decreased tight junction (TJ) protein levels, enhanced cellular oxidant production, activated redox-sensitive signaling, <em>i.e.</em>, NF-κB and ERK1/2, and increased NOX1 and MLCK mRNA levels, the latter being a key regulator of monolayer permeability. The above findings suggest that GPE may protect against HFD-induced obesity and associated metabolic dysfunction (insulin resistance and NAFLD) by modulating intestinal barrier integrity and related endotoxemia.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" 6","pages":" 2515-2529"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143539694","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":"Irradiation alters the structure and reduces the sensitization of sesame proteins in the liquid state†","authors":"Xintong Yang, Tian Yu, Yunpeng Shen, Hui Liu, Youdou Cheng, Ruoyan Dai, Dongxia Yan, Jinyan Gao, Hongbing Chen and Yong Wu","doi":"10.1039/D4FO05355A","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4FO05355A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Irradiation is extensively utilized in food processing as an effective and convenient method. At present, numerous studies have investigated the potential of irradiation to reduce food allergenicity. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of irradiation treatment on the structure and allergenicity of liquid and solid sesame proteins. Sesame protein extracts and lyophilized powders were irradiated at doses of 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 kGy, respectively. The effects of irradiation on sesame proteins were investigated by CD spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, indirect competitive ELISA, western blot and degranulation experiments on KU812 cells. The experimental results demonstrated that irradiation had a more pronounced effect on liquid sesame proteins. Irradiation altered the secondary structure and increased the surface hydrophobicity, with the α-helix content decreasing from 14.27% to 13.53% and the β-sheet content increasing from 33.91% to 39.53%. Additionally, protein aggregation resulted in a reduction of free sulfhydryl groups. Following irradiation, the IC50 value obtained by indirect competitive ELISA increased from 0.695 μg mL<small>⁻¹</small> to 18.546 μg mL<small>⁻¹</small>, while the release of cellular β-Hex and IL-6 was reduced, indicating that irradiation diminished the IgE binding capacity of liquid sesame proteins and their ability to induce cell degranulation. Western blotting results corroborated the findings from the ELISA assay. In conclusion, irradiation modifies the structure and reduces the potential allergenicity of liquid sesame proteins.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" 6","pages":" 2474-2486"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143522103","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":"Investigating the modulatory effects of Pu-erh tea on the gut microbiota in ameliorating hyperuricemia induced by circadian rhythm disruption†","authors":"Sibo Zhao, Hongli Cao, Fanwei Sun, Mianhong Xu, Xinghua Wang, Jielin Jiang, Liyong Luo and Liang Zeng","doi":"10.1039/D4FO05659K","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4FO05659K","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Circadian rhythm disruption (CRD) can induce a variety of metabolic disorders. Our previous laboratory studies have shown that Pu-erh tea could alleviate CRD-induced syndromes, including obesity, intestinal dysfunction, and tryptophan metabolism disorders. However, its potential protective mechanism against CRD-induced hyperuricaemia remains unclear. In this work, we found that polyphenols of Pu-erh tea were significantly released in the stage of intestinal digestion, which might promote their interaction with gut microbes. Through animal experiments, C57BL6/J mice were given water or different doses of Pu-erh tea for 60 days, followed by a 90-day CRD, the lifestyle of modern individuals who frequently stay up late. Our results indicated that CRD mice exhibited high serum uric acid levels and gut microbiota disorders. Pu-erh tea intake significantly reshaped the gut microbiome, especially increasing the abundance of <em>Bifidobacterium</em>, <em>Akkermansia</em> and <em>Faecalibaculum</em>, and increased the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), especially acetic acid, which restored the function of the intestinal barrier. This improvement further regulated oxidative stress pathways (NRF2/HO-1), reduced systemic inflammatory response (IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α), restored hepatic function (SOD, MOD, CAT, and GSH) and modulated the activity of enzymes related to UA metabolism in the liver (XOD and ADA). Finally, Pu-erh tea intake promoted the excretion of UA and reduced the levels of UA and xanthine in the serum. Moreover, the results of antibiotic experiments showed that the UA improvement effect of Pu-erh tea depended on the existence of the gut microbiota. Collectively, Pu-erh tea intake has the potential to prevent CRD-induced hyperuricaemia by reshaping the gut microbiota.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" 7","pages":" 2669-2686"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143539698","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":"Comparative effects of different sugar substitutes: Mogroside V, stevioside, sucralose, and erythritol on intestinal health in a type 2 diabetes mellitus mouse†","authors":"Huaxue Huang, Sha Liu, Zhi Peng, Bin Wang, Shuang Zhan, Sirui Huang, Wei Li, Dai Liu, Xiulian Yang, Yizhun Zhu and Wenjun Xiao","doi":"10.1039/D4FO04446K","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4FO04446K","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Intestinal health disorders significantly contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Sugar substitutes such as mogroside V (MOG), stevioside (ST), sucralose (TGS), and erythritol (ERT), are increasingly used in T2DM management as alternatives to sucrose (SUC). However, their effects on intestinal health in T2DM have not been fully compared. In the present study, we established a T2DM mouse model using a high-fat diet and streptozotocin injection. These mice were treated with equal doses of SUC, MOG, ST, TGS, or ERT for 4 weeks to evaluate the effects of these sugar substitutes on intestinal health in T2DM. T2DM mice exhibited increased intestinal permeability, reduced goblet cell numbers, elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, and alterations in both gut microbiota and metabolite composition. After 4 weeks of treatment, MOG showed the most significant benefits. MOG activates the PI3K/AKT pathway, enhancing the expression of tight junction proteins, which improves intestinal barrier function and reduces permeability. This is accompanied by NF-κB inhibition, leading to reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine production and increased mucus secretion. These changes help maintain healthy gut microbiota and metabolites, preventing pathogenic bacteria from entering the bloodstream. ST downregulates NF-κB to alleviate intestinal inflammation and improves gut microbiota and metabolic homeostasis in T2DM. ERT has less beneficial effects. TGS and SUC reduce intestinal inflammation and have a better effect on the duodenum. However, TGS has a negative effect on the colon microbiota and metabolites, whereas SUC has a negative effect on the colon microbiota alone. MOG improved intestinal health in T2DM by modulating the PI3K/AKT and NF-κB pathways, whereas ST primarily modulated NF-κB to alleviate intestinal inflammation. Both treatments were effective, with MOG showing the best performance. Therefore, MOG can be considered a viable alternative to SUC for T2DM management.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" 5","pages":" 2108-2123"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143447329","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}