Browsing by Author "Duarte, Daniela"
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Impact of a legumes diet on the human gut microbiome articulated with fecal and plasma metabolomes: a pilot studyPublication . Ferreira, Helena; Duarte, Daniela; Carneiro, Tatiana J.; Costa, Célia; Barbosa, Joana C.; Rodrigues, João E.; Alves, Paulo; Vasconcelos, Marta; Pinto, Elisabete; Gomes, Ana; Gil, Ana M.Background & aims: Legumes intake is known to be associated with several health benefits the origins of which is still a matter of debate. This paper addresses a pilot small cohort to probe for metabolic aspects of the interplay between legumes intake, human metabolism and gut microbiota. Methods: Untargeted nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics of blood plasma and fecal extracts was carried out, in tandem with qPCR analysis of feces, to assess the impact of an 8-week pilot legumes diet intervention on the fecal and plasma metabolomes and gut microbiota of 19 subjects. Results: While the high inter-individual variability hindered the detection of statistically significant changes in the gut microbiome, increased fecal glucose and decreased threonine levels were noted. Correlation analysis between the microbiome and fecal metabolome lead to putative hypotheses regarding the metabolic activities of prevalent bacteria groups (Clostridium leptum subgroup, Roseburia spp., and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii). These included elevated fecal glucose as a preferential energy source, the involvement of valerate/isovalerate and reduced protein degradation in gut microbiota. Plasma metabolomics advanced mannose and betaine as potential markers of legume intake and unveiled a decrease in formate and ketone bodies, the latter suggesting improved energy utilization through legume carbohydrates. Amino acid metabolism was also apparently affected, as suggested by lowered urea, histidine and threonine levels. Conclusions: Despite the high inter-individual gut microbiome variability characterizing the small cohort addressed, combination of microbiological measurements and untargeted metabolomics unveiled several metabolic effects putatively related to legumes intake. If confirmed in larger cohorts, our findings will support the inclusion of legumes in diets and contribute valuable new insight into the origins of associated health benefits.
- Urine metabolomics during a legume diet intervention suggests altered metabolic signatures and potential new intake markers: first insightsPublication . Ferreira, Helena; Duarte, Daniela; Rodrigues, João A.; Vasconcelos, Marta W.; Pinto, Elisabete; Gil, Ana M.Given the general increase in legume consumption worldwide, there is a need to characterize the resulting human metabolic adaptations in order to demonstrate potential legume diet/health relationships. A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics urine study was carried out on a small cohort (n = 18) to characterize the excretory effects of a pilot longitudinal 8-week legume-based dietary intervention. Despite the expected high interindividual variability in the excreted metabolome, the results suggested a nonlinear metabolic response, with higher metabolic activity in the first 4 weeks and a tendency toward baseline at the end of the intervention. The excretion of isoleucine, leucine, and threonine increased, along with metabolite changes suggestive of activation of the tricarboxylic acid cycle (through anaplerosis), ketogenesis, fat catabolism, and glycoprotein biosynthesis. Gut microbiota adaptations were also suggested based on the increased excretion of 2-hydroxyisobutyrate, allantoin, and hippurate. Increased levels of trigonelline were consistent with its role as a legume intake marker, whereas malonate and pseudouridine were suggested as possible additional markers. Correlation of NMR data with nutritional parameters aided putative explanatory hypotheses to be advanced. Our results suggest a dynamic response to legume consumption, mainly through increased amino acid excretion and altered energy metabolism, while advancing potential new markers of legume intake. These results require confirmation in larger cohorts but pave the way for an informed interpretation of the effects of legume-based diets on human health.