Challenging to resolve the paradox in anthocyanin function: Study on the interactions between anthocyanin and gut microbiome

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K05928
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 38050:Food sciences-related
• Research Institution: Kagoshima University
• Principal Investigator: HOU De-Xing 鹿児島大学, 農水産獣医学域農学系, 教授 (90305160)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 坂尾 こず枝 鹿児島大学, 農水産獣医学域農学系, 准教授 (40713285)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: アントシアニン / アントシアニン代謝産物 / 非アルコール性脂肪肝 / 脂質異常症 / 腸内細菌叢

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The absorption rate of anthocyanin in the stomach and small intestine is too much low to explain its functionality in the living body. The purpose of this study was challenged to elucidate the contradiction between their low bioavailability and high functionality by investigating the interaction between anthocyanins and intestinal bacteria. Mouse experiments were conducted in accordance with the Kagoshima University Animal Experiment Regulations. Five-week-old mice were fed a standard diet and Westernized diet, or blueberry anthocyanin extract (BA) and its major metabolites, PGA and PCA, for 3 months. The results revealed that anthocyanins were mainly degraded into PCA and PGA in the large intestine, and then regulated intestinal bacteria and their networks related to lipid metabolism, and finally improved lipid metabolism abnormalities and disturbances in intestinal flora caused by WD.

Free Research Field

食品機能科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

アントシアニンは胃・小腸での吸収率は極めて低く、生体での機能性を説明できない。本研究はアントシアニンと腸内細菌の相互作用を解析し、その矛盾を解明することを目的にした。その結果、アントシアニンは主に大腸内でPCやPG等へ分解され、脂質代謝等に関する腸内細菌及びそのネットワークを調節し、過剰栄養による脂質代謝異常及び腸細菌叢の乱れ等を改善させた。これらの成果は、アントシアニンの低生体利用率と高機能性の矛盾解明に説明できる科学根拠を提示したものであり、アントシアニン食材を今後の食卓への健康利用に促進する社会的意義が大きい。