Long-term dietary intake influences the structure and activity of the trillions of microorganisms residing in the human gut, but it remains unclear how rapidly and reproducibly the human gut microbiome responds to short-term macronutrient change. Here we show that the short-term consumption of diets composed entirely of animal or plant products alters microbial community structure and overwhelms inter-individual differences in microbial gene expression. The animal-based diet increased the abundance of bile-tolerant microorganisms (Alistipes, Bilophila and Bacteroides) and decreased the levels of Firmicutes that metabolize dietary plant polysaccharides (Roseburia, Eubacterium rectale and Ruminococcus bromii). Microbial activity mirrored differences between herbivorous and carnivorous mammals, reflecting trade-offs between carbohydrate and protein fermentation. Foodborne microbes from both diets transiently colonized the gut, including bacteria, fungi and even viruses. Finally, increases in the abundance and activity of Bilophila wadsworthia on the animal-based diet support a link between dietary fat, bile acids and the outgrowth of microorganisms capable of triggering inflammatory bowel disease. In concert, these results demonstrate that the gut microbiome can rapidly respond to altered diet, potentially facilitating the diversity of human dietary lifestyles.

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Diet rapidly and reproducibly alters the human gut microbiome

https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(00)04046-0.pdf

Inflammation and cancer: back to Virchow?

The importance of the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 essential fatty acids.

http://envismadrasuniv.org/Physiology/pdf/Gut%20flora%20in%20health%20and%20disease.pdf

Gut flora in health and disease

Organismal life encounters reactive oxidants from internal metabolism and environmental toxicant exposure. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species cause oxidative stress and are traditionally viewed as being harmful. On the other hand, controlled production of oxidants in normal cells serves useful purposes to regulate signaling pathways. Reactive oxidants are counterbalanced by complex antioxidant defense systems regulated by a web of pathways to ensure that the response to oxidants is adequate for the body's needs. A recurrent theme in oxidant signaling and antioxidant defense is reactive cysteine thiol–based redox signaling. The nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) is an emerging regulator of cellular resistance to oxidants. Nrf2 controls the basal and induced expression of an array of antioxidant response element–dependent genes to regulate the physiological and pathophysiological outcomes of oxidant exposure. This review discusses the impact of Nrf2 on oxidative stress and toxicity and how...

/pdf/role-of-nrf2-in-oxidative-stress-and-toxicity-2utmvoa3ko.pdf

Role of nrf2 in oxidative stress and toxicity.

Oltipraz [5-(2-pyrazinyl)-4-methyl-1,2-dithiole-3-thione], a substituted 1,2-dithiole-3-thione, protects against the acute and chronic toxicities of many xenobiotics and prevents chemically induced carcinogenicity in several target organs of rodents. The effects of dietary oltipraz, fed during the initiation and postinitiation stages, on azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis and on the levels of several detoxifying enzymes, namely, glutathione S -transferase, NAD(P)H:quinone reductase, and UDP-glucurinyl transferase activities, were studied in male F344 rats. At 5 weeks of age, groups of animals were fed the control diet (modified AIN-76A diet) or a diet containing 200 ppm (40% maximum tolerated dose) of oltipraz. At 7 weeks of age, all animals except those in the vehicle (normal saline solution)-treated groups were given two weekly s.c. injections of azoxymethane at a dose of 15 mg/kg body weight. Three days after the second injection of azoxymethane, the groups of animals fed the oltipraz diet were transferred to the control diet (termed the initiation period) and the groups of animals receiving the control diet were transferred to the oltipraz diet (termed the positinitiation period). All groups were continued on this regimen until the termination of the experiment at 52 weeks after the carcinogen treatment. Intestinal tumors were evaluated histopathologically using routine procedures. Liver, colonic mucosa, and tumors were analyzed for glutathione S -transferase, NAD(P)H:quinone reductase, and UDP-glucurinyl transferase activities. The results indicate that oltipraz administered during the initiation stage significantly inhibited the incidence and multiplicity of invasive adenocarcinomas of the colon ( P 80%) or the postinitiation (>93%) phase. Animals fed the oltipraz diet during the positinitiation stage showed increased levels of glutathione S -transferase, NAD(P)H:quinone reductase, and UDP-glucurinyl transferase activities (2–6-fold). Although the precise mechanism by which oltipraz inhibits colon tumor initiation and/or promotion remains to be elucidated, it is likely that the effect during the initiation stage may be due to an alteration of carcinogen metabolism.

https://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/53/11/2502.full.pdf

Chemopreventive Effect of Oltipraz during Different Stages of Experimental Colon Carcinogenesis Induced by Azoxymethane in Male F344 Rats

Purpose
Prior studies from our laboratory have demonstrated the efficacy of a combined treatment of low doses of dietary agents curcumin and phenylethylisothiocyanate in effectively suppressing prostate cancer in vitro in human prostate cancer PC3 cells as well as in vivo in immunodeficient mice implanted with PC3 cells. Hence, this study was undertaken to examine the potential chemopreventive properties of the two agents against transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate.

Murine Prostate Cancer Inhibition by Dietary Phytochemicals—Curcumin and Phenyethylisothiocyanate

Epidemiological and preclinical studies suggest that diets that are rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and selenium (Se) reduce the risk of colon cancer. Studies conducted in our laboratory have indicated that synthetic organoselenium 1,4-phenylene bis(methylene) selenocyanate (p-XSC) is less toxic and more effective than inorganic Se and selenomethionine, the major Se compound in natural selenium yeast. Through cDNA microarray analysis, we have demonstrated earlier that the n-3 PUFA docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), modulated more than one signaling pathway by altering several genes involved in colon cancer growth. There is increasing interest in the use of combinations of low doses of chemopreventive agents that differ in their specific modes of action as this approach can minimize toxicity and increase efficacy in model assays. In the present study we assessed the efficacy of DHA and p-XSC individually and in combination at low doses in CaCo-2 colon cancer cells, using cell growth inhibition and apoptosis as measures of chemopreventive efficacy. On the basis of western blot and RT-PCR analysis, we also determined the effects of DHA and p-XSC on the levels of expression of cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclin D1, beta-catenin and nuclear factor kappaB, all of which presumably participate in colon carcinogenesis. A 48 h incubation of CaCo-2 cells with 5 microM each DHA or p-XSC induced cell growth inhibition and apoptosis and altered the expression of the above molecular parameters. Interestingly, the modulation of these cellular and molecular parameters was more pronounced in cells treated with low doses of DHA and p-XSC (2.5 microM each) in combination than in cells treated with these agents individually at higher concentrations (5.0 microM each). These findings are viewed as highly significant since they will provide the basis for the development of combinations of low dose regimens of DHA and p-XSC in preclinical models against colon carcinogenesis and, ultimately, in human clinical trials.

/pdf/effects-of-a-combination-of-docosahexaenoic-acid-and-1-4-579mln3wpe.pdf

Effects of a combination of docosahexaenoic acid and 1,4-phenylene bis(methylene) selenocyanate on cyclooxygenase 2, inducible nitric oxide synthase and β-catenin pathways in colon cancer cells

The effect of various levels of dietary corn oil or trans fat on azoxymethane (AOM; CAS: 25843-45-2)-induced carcinogenesis was investigated in female F344 rats fed the AIN-76 semipurified diets. Starting at 5 weeks of age, groups of rats were fed the low-fat diet containing 5% corn oil (designated as low-fat control diet). At 7 weeks of age, all animals except the vehicle-treated controls, were given sc injections of AOM (15 mg/kg body wt, once weekly) for 3 weeks. After 1 week, groups of animals were transferred to semipurified diets containing 13.6% corn oil and 23.5% corn oil or high-fat diets containing 5.9% corn oil plus 5.9% trans fat plus 11.8% Oleinate (low trans fat), 5.9% corn oil plus 11.8% trans fat plus 5.9% Oleinate (intermediate trans fat), and 5.9% corn oil plus 17.6% trans fat (high trans fat). Fecal bile acids were measured in vehicle-treated rats. All animals were necropsied 34 weeks after the last AOM injection. The animals fed the 23.5% corn oil diet had a higher incidence of colon tumors than did those in the groups fed the 5 and 13.6% corn oil diets. There was no difference in colon tumor incidence between the 5 and 13.6% corn oil diet groups. The animals fed the high-fat diets containing low trans fat, intermediate trans fat, and high trans fat developed significantly fewer liver and colon tumors and more small intestinal tumors than did the rats fed 23.5% corn oil diet. The excretion of fecal deoxycholic acid, lithocholic acid, and 12-ketolithocholic acid was higher in animals fed the 23.5% corn oil diet compared to the excretion in animals fed the other diets.

Effect of Different Levels of Dietary Trans Fat or Corn Oil on Azoxymethane-Induced Colon Carcinogenesis in F344 Rats

The effect of 30% caloric restriction on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon carcinogenesis was investigated in male F344 rats. Starting at 5 weeks of age, groups of animals were fed ad libitum a high-fat (23.5%) semipurified diet. At 7 weeks of age, all animals except the vehicle-treated groups were s.c. injected with AOM (15 mg/kg body wt, once weekly for 2 weeks). Four days after the second AOM injection, groups of animals were continued on high-fat diet and fed ad libitum (ad libitum group) whereas other groups were restricted to 70% of total calories (calorie-restricted group) consumed by the ad libitum group, but received same amounts of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Thirty-two weeks after AOM injections, all animals were necropsied. The animals in the calorie-restricted group developed significantly fewer colon tumors and had a lower colon tumor incidence than did the rats in the ad libitum group. The size of colon tumors was also reduced in the calorie-restricted group.

Bandaru S. Reddy

Papers

Chemopreventive Effect of Oltipraz during Different Stages of Experimental Colon Carcinogenesis Induced by Azoxymethane in Male F344 Rats

Murine Prostate Cancer Inhibition by Dietary Phytochemicals—Curcumin and Phenyethylisothiocyanate

Effects of a combination of docosahexaenoic acid and 1,4-phenylene bis(methylene) selenocyanate on cyclooxygenase 2, inducible nitric oxide synthase and β-catenin pathways in colon cancer cells

Effect of Different Levels of Dietary Trans Fat or Corn Oil on Azoxymethane-Induced Colon Carcinogenesis in F344 Rats

Effect of restricted caloric intake on azoxymethane-induced colon tumor incidence in male F344 rats.