Enhancing Gut Microbiota with Cranberry Extracts: Potential Impacts on Chronic Diseases
Cranberry extracts appear to improve gut microbiota and help prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. A recent study by Université Laval and the Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods (INAF) reports beneficial effects after just four days of use.
Cranberries and berries are associated with many health benefits, which are mainly attributed to their high content of polyphenols in the form of tannins. They also contain high concentrations of oligosaccharides, small fibers that are thought to contribute to their biological activity.
The research team, led by Yves Desjardins, professor at the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Science, showed that polyphenols and oligosaccharides present in cranberry extract boost the genus Bifidobacterium, associated with a reduced risk of diabetes and cardiometabolic diseases.
The research findings have been published in the esteemed scientific journal npj Biofilms and Microbiomes.
Cranberry Extracts: Stimulating Beneficial Bacteria and Protecting Gut Health
“Normally, these bacteria are stimulated by consuming fiber. Jacob Lessard-Lord, a postdoctoral researcher at INAF, stated that we discovered a similar outcome while using cranberry extract at a dosage about 20 times smaller.
Cranberry extracts additionally promote the growth of the bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila, which has a crucial function in the intestinal mucosa by reducing inflammation and enhancing the integrity of the intestinal barrier.
This is of particular interest when it comes to combating the harmful effects of the Western diet.”This diet modifies the microbiota, leading to inflammation of the mucosal lining and compromising the integrity of the gut barrier, which is crucial for shielding the body against bacteria found in the gut.”
“The alteration of the intestinal barrier allows the passage of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) originating from the gut microbiota, known as metabolic endotoxemia, and is a crucial factor in the development and progression of inflammation and metabolic diseases,” explains Desjardins.
“The persistent inflammation caused by the presence of LPS in the body can contribute to the development of various chronic conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease,” he clarifies.
Short-Term Effects of Cranberry Extracts on Microbiota and Inflammation: Insights from a Four-Day Human Trial
Cranberry extracts, when included in a well-balanced diet, can regulate the inflammatory pathway and enhance the outlook for chronic diseases. By stimulating the bacteria Akkermansia muciniphila and Bifidobacterium, the microbiota regenerates and recreates an anti-inflammatory environment. This has the effect of strengthening the connection between the cells of the intestinal barrier, thereby strengthening it.
During the trial, around forty volunteers were selected from INAF and given specific instructions to take a cranberry supplement in the form of capsules twice a day – once in the morning and once in the evening. The amount of cranberry supplement they were directed to take was comparable to consuming 60 grams of fresh cranberries.
Plasma, urine, and stool samples were taken from the participants at the beginning of the experiment and after four days. The human study was commenced following encouraging outcomes in the SHIME in vitro system, which replicates sections of the gut.
The research team is now interested in investigating the long-term effects of the extracts. “The fact that we will observe a positive outcome within a span of only four days is encouraging,” states Lessard-Lord.
Although cranberries had a beneficial effect on all participants, the results highlighted the variability in their responses. Future research will determine which microbiota respond best to the extracts.
