Elucidating the microbiome, genes, and enzymes unique to fiber responders

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K14810
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 38020:Applied microbiology-related
• Research Institution: Gunma University
• Principal Investigator: Sugiyama Yuta 群馬大学, 食健康科学教育研究センター, 助教 (80908749)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 腸内細菌 / 食物繊維 / 遺伝子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

There are “responders” who can obtain the health benefits of dietary fiber and “non-responders” who cannot, and it is thought that the gut microbiota is responsible for the difference between the two. However, the specific gut bacteria species and molecular mechanisms that distinguish responders from non-responders are unknown. In this study, we used human fecal culture to evaluate the effects of dietary fiber on the gut microbiota and metabolite production, using glucomannan (KGM) as a model dietary fiber. We found that the proportion of Parabacteroides sp., for which various health benefits have been reported, increased with KGM and that there were individual differences in the extent of the increase. The addition of KGM tended to increase propionic acid. In addition, it was suggested that the increase in Parabacteroides sp. by KGM was due to interactions with other gut bacteria.

Free Research Field

応用微生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

食物繊維の保健効果における腸内細菌叢の重要性が報告されている。食物繊維の保健効果を担う腸内細菌を同定し、同菌を介した食物繊維の保健効果発現機構を遺伝子レベルで解明することが出来れば、糞便中の腸内細菌由来遺伝子解析を通じて個人の腸内環境に合わせた食物繊維の処方やシンバイオティクスの開発に繋がる。本研究では、グルコマンナンをモデル食物繊維として、腸内細菌叢を反映した糞便培養を用いて、種々の保健効果が報告されているParabacteroides属細菌の占有率が増加すること、さらにKGMによる本菌の増加は他の腸内細菌とのKGMを介した相互作用により生じることを明らかにした。