D-tagatose: A rare sugar with functional properties and antimicrobial potential against oral species
D-tagatose is a rare sugar with low caloric value and antimicrobial effects. It offers an interesting alternative to high-calorie sugars, such as sucrose, which contribute to dental caries and metabolic diseases like diabetes mellitus. Its applications include foods, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. The safety profile of D-tagatose has been explored and supported in several studies. It has been recognized by the FAO/WHO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives, as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the United States Food and Drug Administration, and as a “novel food ingredient” by the European Union with no use restrictions. This review presents an overview of systemic and oral health benefits of D-tagatose. Besides its low energy contribution, D-tagatose has several compelling health properties, such as antioxidant capacity, prebiotic effects, low digestibility, reduced glycemic and insulinemic responses, and improved lipid profile. Its antioxidant activity arises from its ability to eliminate free radicals and reduce cellular oxidative stress. Regarding oral microbial modulation, D-tagatose has been found to effectively reverse bacterial coaggregation, impair the activity and growth of carcinogenic bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans, inhibit biofilm formation, and decrease pH and insoluble glucan synthesis in certain bacterial cultures. Altogether, D-tagatose is a promising agent for improving oral health and the management of chronic systemic diseases related to excessive caloric sugar consumption. Future preclinical and clinical trials are warranted to better elucidate the mechanisms of action of D-tagatose.
Key takeaways:
- D-tagatose is a rare sugar with functional properties and antimicrobial potential against oral species.
- D-tagatose has been shown to reverse bacterial coaggregation and inhibit biofilm formation, contributing to oral health.
- D-tagatose has the potential to benefit oral health and may be useful in managing chronic diseases related to excessive caloric sugar consumption.
Access to the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38931297/
Reference: Ortiz, A. C., Fideles, S. O. M., Reis, C. H. B., Pagani, B. T., Bueno, L. M. M., Moscatel, M. B. M., Buchaim, R. L., & Buchaim, D. V. (2024). D-Tagatose: A Rare Sugar with Functional Properties and Antimicrobial Potential against Oral Species. Nutrients, 16(12), 1943. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16121943
Effect of maternal prebiotic supplementation on human milk immunological composition: Insights from the SYMBA study
Human milk (HM) exposure in early life is important for disease prevention as it contains many bioactive factors that can help fight infections and actively shape the infant’s immune development. HM is known for its plasticity and ability to continuously adapt to the maternal environment and child needs. In observational studies, maternal dietary patterns have been shown to impact HM composition and the risk of infant allergic diseases. Higher intake of fiber and a diverse diet have been linked to reduced risk of infant allergic disease. As such, there has been interest in developing strategies to optimize maternal nutrition during lactation to ensure optimal infant immune development. This exploratory study was part of a larger randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial investigating the effects of maternal prebiotic intake (comprised of galactooligosaccharides and fructooligosaccharides) versus placebo (maltodextrin) from <21 weeks of gestation until six months postnatal on the risk of allergic disease in children. Mother-child pairs receiving prebiotics (n=46) or placebo (n=54) were included in the study. The study measured 24 immunomodulatory proteins in HM collected at 2, 4, and 6 months. While the overall immunomodulatory protein composition of the HM samples from the two groups was similar, some distinct differences were observed in individual protein levels. At two months, the HM of the prebiotic-supplemented group had decreased levels of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and increased levels of soluble CD14 when compared to placebo. At four months, the level of IgG1 was lower in the prebiotic group compared to placebo. These findings are important for understanding how prebiotics recommended for pregnant and lactating women can modify the immune properties of HM, potentially influencing infant health outcomes and immune development.
Key takeaways:
- HM contains various immunomodulatory proteins involved in shaping the immune development of infants.
- This exploratory study showed that prebiotic consumption by lactating mothers selectively alters specific HM immunomodulatory proteins.
- Therefore, prebiotic dietary interventions can modulate the immune properties of HM, ultimately impacting infant health outcomes.
Access the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39221598/
Reference: Divakara, N., Dempsey, Z., Saraswati, C., Garssen, J., Silva, D., Keelan, J. A., Christophersen, C. T., Cooper, M. N., Prescott, S. L., Palmer, D. J., Verhasselt, V., & Macchiaverni, P. (2024). Effect of maternal prebiotic supplementation on human milk immunological composition: Insights from the SYMBA study. Pediatric allergy and immunology : official publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, 35(9), e14226. https://doi.org/10.1111/pai.14226
The effect of different sweeteners on the oral microbiome: a randomized clinical exploratory pilot study
Dental caries is a common preventable non-communicable disease that affects approximately two billion people globally. It involves a gradual loss of the tooth (enamel and dentine) due to free sugars contained in foods and beverages, which are converted into acids by bacteria in the mouth, leading to the destruction of the tooth over time. Diet contributes to the growth of acid-producing bacteria in the oral microbiome, while certain dietary components like carbohydrates, such as sucrose, have the highest risk for caries. This randomized, double-blinded study aimed to analyze the effects of five mouth rinses with commonly used sweeteners (inulin, glucose, isomaltulose, tagatose, and trehalose) on the microbial composition in dental plaque and tongue biofilm. Sixty-five healthy volunteers (aged 18-55) were randomized to rinse thrice daily for two weeks with a 10% solution of one of the allocated sweeteners. The primary outcomes included the microbial composition of supragingival dental plaque and tongue dorsum coating as analyzed by 16S RNA sequencing, while secondary outcomes included dental plaque red fluorescence and salivary pH. Significant dental plaque microbiota changes were reported in two groups: inulin and isomaltulose. The tongue microbiota had significant changes with isomaltulose and trehalose. No significant differences were reported in the secondary outcomes. Overall, the effects on the oral microbiota were sweetener-dependent, with inulin showing the strongest microbial modulation potential and the most pronounced effects reported on the plaque microbiota. Further large-scale clinical trials are warranted.
Key takeaways:
- Sweeteners that have prebiotic potential make exciting alternatives to sucrose, which contributes to an increased risk of developing dental caries.
- The study evaluated the effects of five commonly used sweeteners, including inulin, glucose, isomaltulose, tagatose, and trehalose, in mouth rinses on the oral microbiome.
- Inulin possesses the strongest microbial-modulating properties among the tested sweeteners, indicating a shift towards a healthy oral microbiome.
- Future clinical trials are needed to evaluate the clinical effects on the full microbiome.
Access the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38919384/
Reference: Zakis, D. R., Brandt, B. W., van der Waal, S. V., Keijser, B. J. F., Crielaard, W., van der Plas, D. W. K., Volgenant, C. M. C., & Zaura, E. (2024). The effect of different sweeteners on the oral microbiome: a randomized clinical exploratory pilot study. Journal of oral microbiology, 16(1), 2369350. https://doi.org/10.1080/20002297.2024.2369350
Efficacy of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on liver enzymes, lipid profiles, and inflammation in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent liver condition, affecting between 25% and 45% of the global population. NAFLD pathogenesis is mainly due to hepatic lipid accumulation and disturbed glucose metabolism, leading to a spectrum of liver diseases ranging from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and in severe cases, liver cancer. Nonetheless, effective treatment options for managing NAFLD mainly involve improving diet and lifestyle. Microbial therapies, such as prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics, have shown inconclusive results in improving the condition of patients with NAFLD. This systemic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of the different microbial therapies on liver injury, inflammation, and lipid levels in individuals with NAFLD. Four databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, were searched for articles published from inception up to March 2024, utilizing prebiotics, probiotics, or synbiotics for the treatment of patients with NAFLD. Thirty-four studies involving 12,682 participants were considered, which showed significant improvement in liver injury, including hepatic fibrosis, liver enzymes, lipid profiles, and inflammatory factors. The review concluded that prebiotic, probiotic, and synbiotic supplementation may have positive effects on liver injury in NAFLD patients. Future studies that are larger and use sex- and stress-based stratification methodologies should be considered.
Key takeaways:
- NAFLD is a serious liver condition with limited treatment options besides dietary and lifestyle improvements.
- Prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics have shown potential benefits in NAFLD patients, but scientific data on their effectiveness is inconclusive.
- This systemic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials examined the effects of prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics on liver-related indicators in NAFLD patients.
- Prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics reported significant improvements in various endpoints, including hepatic fibrosis, liver enzyme levels, lipid profiles, and inflammatory factors.
Access the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39174901/
Reference: Pan, Y., Yang, Y., Wu, J., Zhou, H., & Yang, C. (2024). Efficacy of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on liver enzymes, lipid profiles, and inflammation in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. BMC gastroenterology, 24(1), 283. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-024-03356-y
